The Governor’s powers are conferred on him by law either in his capacity as an organ of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Regulations of the Governos of Curacao) or in his capacity as an organ of the country of Curaçao (Constitution of Curacao).

As an organ of the Kingdom, the Governor protects the general interests of the Kingdom and is responsible for implementing Kingdom Acts, Orders in Council for the Kingdom and international treaties, and for overseeing compliance. In this capacity, he is involved with the public chiefly with regard to the implementation of the Passport Act (issuing travel documents and visas) and the Netherlands Nationality Act (acquiring Dutch nationality by naturalisation or the option procedure).

In addition to these roles, the Governor also represents the King in Curaçao and so is head of the country’s government. The ministers, and not the Governor, are responsible for acts of government and are accountable to the parliament of Curaçao for the Governor’s exercise of his powers.

The Governor opens parliament on the second Tuesday of September every year. Following elections, he initiates the formation of a new government by appointing one or more informateurs (mediators) and a formateur, who is charged with forming a government. The Governor also ratifies country ordinances and country decrees and is responsible for swearing in certain senior officials, such as ministers and members of the Joint Court of Justice, the Public Prosecution Service, the Advisory Council, the General Audit Chamber and the Central Bank of Curaçao and St Maarten. The Governor presents royal decorations on the day before King’s Day every year.

Finally, the Governor is also involved in the process of providing military assistance and extraditing prisoners.