In a joint effort to protect Aruba’s autonomy and the principles of parliamentary democracy, a broad coalition of unions has addressed a formal letter to the Parliament of Aruba. The unions are questioning the progress of the Kingdom Consensus Law (HOFA) and are calling for a political decision based on the critical advice recently received.
Constitutional and Democratic Concerns The position of the unions is not new; since November 2025, they have presented a “position paper” outlining legal, institutional, and economic objections. Their main argument is that the HOFA law in its current form interferes with the fundamental structure of the island’s democracy. The primary points of concern are:
- Constitutional Tension: There is a direct conflict between the proposed law and the principle of parliamentary democracy.
- Limitation of Autonomy: The law could severely limit Aruba’s ability to manage its own budget.
- Kingdom Relations: The role intended for the Kingdom Council of Ministers is considered to go against existing constitutional relations within the Dutch Kingdom.
The Role of the Advisory Council The unions highlight that the advice from Aruba’s Advisory Council (Raad van Advies, RVA 13-26) confirms the concerns they have been expressing. According to the unions, this advice—prepared by local experts—is more than sufficient grounds for Parliament to make a decision without having to wait for external bodies like the Council of State (Raad van State).
An Appeal for Transparency and Action The union coalition, which includes organizations such as FTA, SIMAR, TOPA, ABV, SEPPA, SIWA, SADA, STT, SINBA, and others, has asked Parliament to provide clarity via a motion. They want to know if there is still a real “consensus,” as required by the Kingdom Charter for these types of laws.
Not a Rejection of Oversight, but of the “Form” The unions continue to emphasize that they are not against cooperation within the Kingdom nor against financial supervision itself. On the contrary, they value solid and transparent public finances. However, they propose seeking alternatives based on local laws to strengthen existing supervision, which they consider a more balanced and institutionally healthy path for Aruba.
The unions are now awaiting a concrete stance from Parliament to determine whether the HOFA law trajectory should be canceled or reconsidered in its entirety.