During a press conference, Parliamentarian Eduard Pieters elaborated on the third item on the agenda, namely the HOFA Kingdom Act (Rijkswet HOFA). According to the PPA, this law represents a serious threat to Aruba’s Status Aparte. During his recent visit to the Netherlands, Pieters spoke with various members of the Dutch House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer), and virtually all acknowledged that the HOFA Kingdom Act is highly controversial especially because it lacks support from both the Aruban population and a broad majority in the Parliament of Aruba.
The fact that a law with such far-reaching consequences for Aruba’s fiscal and political sovereignty is being pushed forward without a local democratic mandate is an alarming signal for Aruba’s democracy.
Since the Beginning of 2025, PPA Has Been Warning the Public and Social Organizations
Since early 2025, the PPA parliamentary faction has held a series of meetings with business associations, labor unions, and social organizations to explain what the HOFA Kingdom Act truly entails and the real dangers it poses for Aruba. The PPA prepared and distributed a minority report containing legal, economic, and constitutional arguments, clearly explaining why this law does not benefit Aruba’s Status Aparte especially at a time when Aruba is celebrating 40 years of autonomy.
The message was clear: HOFA represents a step backward in Aruba’s struggle for self-determination.
Without PPA’s Persistence, HOFA Would Have Become Reality Long Ago
“During a recent meeting with the Council of State, it became clear that the HOFA Kingdom Act was not even on their radar. The Netherlands wants the new government to address this situation bilaterally between the Netherlands and Aruba. If it were not for the continued insistence of the PPA and the opposition, the law would have passed long ago without serious debate and against all principles of goodwill aimed at securing support from both the people and Parliament.
This shows that Aruba has entered a dangerously comfortable zone. Status Aparte is now 40 years old, but the value of autonomy is fading from the government’s mindset.”
The PPA applauds the initiative of former Prime Minister Nelson Oduber and his documentary explaining what Status Aparte truly means, as a way to educate the younger generation and remind them that autonomy is not automatic it must be defended.
PPA’s Struggle: “Being the Boss in Our Own House”
According to Eduard Pieters:
“It would be incomplete not to mention the historic leader of the PPA, Juancho Yrausquin, who fought for Aruba not to accept the 12–8 arrangement, but to maintain the 8–8 structure within the Netherlands Antilles. That was precisely why Juancho Yrausquin left the AVP at the time, because they did accept the 12–8 arrangement. Juancho Yrausquin fought to ensure Aruba achieved a General Pension system (today’s SVB), free education, social protection, and economic dignity. The PPA once held up to 15 seats in Parliament because the people recognized its leadership and its struggle for the well-being of the Aruban people.”
HOFA and the “Surplus” Narrative
“Minister Geoffrey Wever presented the HOFA Kingdom Act to parliamentarians from the other islands, but even those parliamentarians questioned Aruba’s position: How can you accept HOFA when you have a budget surplus? The truth is that Aruba meets the LAFT standards. There is no need to enter a RAFT in order to borrow funds. Once Aruba enters the RAFT, it will never exit, and we will lose the self-determination for which we fought so hard.
That is precisely why the PPA faction voted against Aruba’s national budget. The government boasts about having a surplus, yet still wants to borrow money, and on top of that, there is no concrete investment list—only empty content. There is no plan and even less transparency. We have seen this before with the Plan Bo Bario, where large sums of money were spent without proper oversight,” Pieters emphasized.
Our Autonomy Is Not for Sale
In closing, Eduard Pieters stressed that the HOFA Kingdom Act goes against all principles of self-determination. Aruba is not a financial department of the Kingdom. Aruba is a country with 40 years of Status Aparte. The PPA will continue to defend Aruba’s autonomy and right to self-determination.