ORANJESTAD – During a fully attended AVP party meeting, Aruba’s Prime Minister and AVP leader Mike Eman announced two historic decisions marking a new chapter for both the party and Aruba.
Eman revealed that at the AVP Leadership Congress in September 2026, he will transfer party leadership to a new generation. Additionally, he will end his tenure as Minister-President of Aruba on January 1, 2027, closing an era in which he led the AVP for 25 years and served as Prime Minister across three separate periods.
Eman’s political career is historic: he is the highest vote-getter since Status Aparte, led AVP to 13 seats—a record—and achieved significant accomplishments in Aruba’s economic, social, and infrastructure development. His leadership emphasized social inclusion, support for vulnerable groups, and visionary guidance for Aruba within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
In his farewell speech, Eman reflected on completed social projects, including pension increases, social assistance, and reparatietoeslag for low-income residents. He highlighted plans to align the minimum wage with the “bestaansminimum” within three years, ensuring no low-income household faces a budget deficit.
Eman expressed gratitude to party members, volunteers, elected officials, ministers, families, and all Arubans who supported him, emphasizing that his dedication to Aruba and AVP ideals will continue beyond January 1, 2027. He underscored that true leadership is not just service but also preparing a new generation to carry forward responsibility and vision.
