AVP Congress on October 4, according to party leader, marks the beginning of an era of handover
During last Friday’s press conference at the Party House (Cas di Partido), AVP leader and Prime Minister Mike Eman emphasized why he considers the upcoming AVP Congress on October 4 to be of historical importance. For Eman, the planned handover in leadership is about a change of individuals, but also about taking responsibility for the future of a political institute that, at decisive moments, has always played a vanguard role in Aruba’s development.
“An important essence of AVP is that we have always been at the cradle of new and fundamental developments for Aruba. AVP has always had a date with the desires, ideals, and needs of the Aruban community.”
Eman emphasized that, across generations, AVP has always stood at the cradle of major state, social, and economic reforms for Aruba: from Aruba’s political awakening and the fight for greater autonomy, to Status Aparte and the continuous modernization of our country.
“From Aruba’s awakening to the development of our country as one of the most prosperous and progressive societies in our region: each time, the leaders of our institute have assumed responsibility when Aruba faced a new historical mandate.”
According to Eman, throughout all this, a Christian-social conviction has always served as a guide. The pursuit of the Common Good founded on values such as love for one’s neighbor, solidarity, good stewardship, human dignity, and social justice.
“From the pioneers of Status Aparte to the reformers of the social and economic foundations of modern Aruba, leaders in our organization have been pioneers of change. It is precisely why I consider it important that, now as the world and Aruba enter a period of major technological changes with an impact on the formation of societies, we must also create space within our party for a generation of this time.”
Eman qualifies the period ahead as one that also calls for an era of handover: a time in which leadership, governance, and organization are passed to a handover generation to respond to the new times ahead.
A political career with exceptional support
Mike Eman can look back on a long political career, during which election after election he received overwhelming support from the Aruban community. Since the introduction of Status Aparte, no political leader in Aruba has achieved more preferential votes than Mike Eman, with more than 8,000 personal votes. Even when he participated as the final candidate on the electoral list, he achieved a record number of preferential votes for that position.
Eman served as Prime Minister of Aruba from 2009 to 2017 and has held the office again since March 2025.
Under his leadership, Aruba achieved an exceptional recovery following the 2007–2008 international financial and economic crisis. His cabinets launched a broad investment agenda that renovated and transformed much of Aruba’s public infrastructure, its road network, neighborhoods, and urban and public areas.
In addition, profound reforms were implemented to strengthen the sustainability of pension and health insurance systems. At the same time, social protection was fundamentally expanded, including the introduction of a general pension and various forms of allowances (toeslagen) for the most vulnerable in the Aruban community. Every time Eman assumes responsibility as Prime Minister, he leads a strategic cooperation strategy to promote closer and more lasting collaboration within the Kingdom.
Eman expresses that leadership is demonstrated not only in what we manage to achieve together with a team and a community, but also in the ability to, at the right moment, create space and give substance to the needs of the era.
“There comes a time when responsibility itself means you must pass the baton. That you ensure a new generation not only gets the opportunity to step forward, but truly receives the trust, space, and responsibility to lead.”
“With pain in our hearts, but with confidence”
AVP Board Vice President Clifford Heyliger emphasized the special significance of the upcoming Congress:
“We are doing this with pain in our hearts, because for so many years Mike has been the face, strength, and inspiration of our institute. But at the same time, we realize how important this moment is. A strong organization must also be able to renew itself in time and prepare its future.”
Minister Wendrick Cicilia, who within the party is seen as the person projected to represent a new generation of leadership, also spoke about the meaning of cooperation and sharing deep ideas with Mike Eman:
“The wonderful years during which I had the privilege of walking alongside our leader Mike Eman and reflecting with him on our responsibility toward Aruba form an important foundation for me regarding what now lies before us. The shoes that need filling are large, but even more important is the responsibility to continue carrying the values and the mandate of the institute of the people, for the people, by the people, which is AVP.”
On various occasions, Eman has publicly expressed his confidence in Cicilia and emphasized that renewal can only be lasting when it is built on passing experience and values to the handover generation, thereby ensuring the continuity of fundamental principles and opening the door to renewal.
October 4: Continuity and renewal
According to Eman, the AVP Congress on October 4 must therefore become more than a regular party congress. It will be a moment to reflect on the values of our institute and open space for the era of handover.
“Generations before us assumed responsibility for Aruba at crucial moments. Our responsibility today is to ensure that the same organization remains strong, relevant, and at the service of our people for the next generation as well. We are not just passing a position. We are passing a mandate.”
For Eman, the Congress thus represents a continuation of AVP’s responsibility toward the Aruban people, and at the same time the beginning of a new chapter, with new forces that will shape the call of our time.
Mike Eman: “People change, generations change, but our date with Aruba remains.”
