The MEP parliamentary faction believes it would be better for the portfolio of Kingdom Affairs to remain under the responsibility of the Prime Minister, rather than being assigned to another minister.
Under the LIM agreement, coalition parties AVP and Futuro placed the Kingdom Affairs portfolio under Minister Gerlien Croes. However, MEP argues that Minister Croes has the least direct ties and working relationships within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. According to the party, the Prime Minister, who maintains the strongest connections at the Kingdom level, is better suited to manage this strategically important portfolio.
As a result, MEP submitted a motion in Parliament proposing that Kingdom Affairs be returned to the Prime Minister’s responsibility.
Minister Plenipotentiary Still Not Appointed
During the parliamentary debate, extensive discussion also took place regarding the Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba in the Netherlands. The Charter of the Kingdom (Statuut) requires Aruba to appoint a minister to represent the country in the Netherlands—it is not optional.
To date, Aruba has still not appointed a Minister Plenipotentiary, and the reasons remain unclear. Initial assumptions suggested Minister Gerlien Croes was delaying the appointment to avoid costs, but during the parliamentary session, Croes stated that the decision lies with Prime Minister Mike Eman.
The AVP faction submitted a motion urging Minister Croes to appoint a Minister Plenipotentiary urgently. However, the motion was rejected after the Futuro faction voted against it.
Concerns Over Aruba’s Image
It is becoming increasingly evident that the AVP–Futuro Cabinet is internally divided on this issue. There is still no clear timeline for appointing a Minister Plenipotentiary, a situation that critics warn could damage Aruba’s image in the Netherlands, especially at a time when strong representation is considered crucial.
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