Now that the Advisory Council (Raad van Advies) has confirmed that the proposed Kingdom Law HOFA, presented by the AVP and FUTURO government, directly interferes with Aruba’s autonomy, the tone of the political debate has shifted. This is no longer just a discussion between the opposition and the government; it is an institutional signal that Aruba must now take very seriously and act upon.
The leader of the PPA faction, Eduard Pieters, expressed himself forcefully and without hesitation: “There are no more excuses. When independent institutions confirm these concerns, remaining silent becomes complicity.”
From the beginning, the PPA has warned that HOFA is a law that goes much further than financial discipline. It is about power. It is about control. It is about the right of the Parliament of Aruba to determine its own financial course without external intervention. Now that the Advisory Council has validated this, the question is no longer whether there is a problem, but rather: “Who has the courage to face reality?”
The Government cannot continue to treat this as a mere technical process or a matter of partisan politics. This is a national issue, and a lack of action now will be interpreted as a choice: a decision to accept the weakening of our position within the Kingdom.
The PPA makes a strong and direct call: set aside your party colors, put away political calculations, overcome all individual interests, and let us come together to form a national front. Not to confront the Netherlands, but to negotiate with dignity and clarity. Not to create conflict, but to prevent Aruba from losing ground without a fight.
A strong Kingdom is not built on laws that impose control, but on mutual respect between autonomous countries. And respect is not something you ask for; you must demand it with a unified voice.
This is the moment that will define where Aruba stands in the years to come. “Divided, we are weak. United, we have much more power,” Eduard Pieters remarked. Now is the time to show that Aruba does not negotiate its autonomy—neither in silence nor in division.