ORANJESTAD — The Movimiento Electoral di Pueblo (MEP) parliamentary faction has requested an urgent public meeting of Parliament to seek clarification from Minister Gerlien Croes regarding statements about Rijkswet HOFA and internal coalition agreements.
In a letter dated August 18, 2026, addressed to Parliament President Marlon Sneek, MEP said comments made by Croes on August 17 raised important questions about the nature and content of agreements between the governing coalition parties.
According to the letter, Croes publicly stated that when a political party nominates a ministerial candidate, that person becomes part of Government and has an agreement with their own party while also being required to respect the governing agreement.
Croes reportedly added that if disagreements arise, consideration must be given to how the governing agreement can continue to be maintained.
MEP considers those statements particularly significant in relation to Rijkswet HOFA and the possible consequences if a coalition party is unwilling or unable to comply with agreements that have been made.
The opposition faction is asking Croes to explain specifically what agreements concerning Rijkswet HOFA were included in the governing agreement or reached between the coalition parties.
MEP also wants clarification about Croes’ reported statement that the collapse of such an agreement could mean there would be “no government anymore.”
The faction wants to know how such coalition agreements relate to the individual responsibility of ministers and the independent constitutional responsibilities of Parliament.
MEP considers the issue important for both Aruban society and the country’s constitutional governance.
For that reason, the faction has requested that the public parliamentary meeting be scheduled urgently and that Minister Croes be invited to provide an explanation.
The request was signed by parliamentarians Evelyn Wever-Croes, Edgard Vrolijk and Rocco Tjon.
