At a time when discussions regarding the economic impact and the cost of living in Aruba are at a crucial juncture, the attitude and political commitment within the governing coalition have been placed under strain and debate. In a gesture showing a high sense of responsibility for the country, Minister Gerlien Croes’s FUTURO party took a firm stance by calling an emergency coalition meeting. However, the scene was marked by the absence of coalition partner AVP, who did not show up at the Bestuurskantoor.
The primary objective of calling this emergency meeting was to engage in a serious, transparent, and immediate dialogue regarding financial data and the economic impacts that various proposals will have on the Aruban community. While the FUTURO ministerial team diligently showed up at the Bestuurskantoor to address this matter with utmost urgency, the empty chairs at the deliberation table sent a very clear message from their coalition partner.
“Governing means cooperation, presence, and dialogue,” stated Minister Gerlien Croes of FUTURO. “When a country faces moments where decisions must be made that affect future generations and economic stability, you cannot choose to remain absent from the work table.”
The fact that the party was left sitting alone in the Bestuurskantoor highlights two fundamental points in current political dynamics:
- The party demonstrated that it is ready to engage in the toughest discussions and work on the necessary calculations and budgeting that the situation demands.
- Calling an emergency meeting is an official and responsible instrument to solve an impasse. Leaving a coalition partner sitting alone in the Bestuurskantoor cuts off the direct line of dialogue that the partners themselves preach in public. This illustrated a lack of respect for their coalition partner, though FUTURO showed no compassion considering that Prime Minister Mike Eman arrived in Aruba on that exact same day.
The stance taken by Minister Croes’s party serves as a wake-up call for the entire coalition and the whole country. The message is transparent: no salary increase or government decision can take place without proper financial analysis, nor can this process be delayed due to a lack of political will to sit at the table.
The party’s decision to stand firm, remain present, and continue conducting rigorous analyses to protect the country’s treasury and prevent the cost of living from escalating further shows clear leadership. Now the question left lingering at the Bestuurskantoor is: how much longer will coalition partner AVP take to assume its role at the table of dialogue and responsibility?
It was understood that Prime Minister Mike Eman had notified his coalition partner that he would not attend, but FUTURO nevertheless persisted in asking AVP to be present and showed up themselves. AVP also advised that it would first attend the AVP partijraad (party council) today, November 2, at 7:00 PM, and speak with the coalition afterward.