The PPA faction leader congratulates De Meza, but questions the MP’s political loyalty and legal protection.
Parliamentarian Eduard Pieters, leader of the PPA faction, publicly congratulated his fellow parliamentarian Mike de Meza after he was cleared of all charges. However, Pieters did not let the moment pass as just a simple congratulation; he transformed the outcome into a direct political message: Who really stood by Mike de Meza during his most difficult moment?
“A heartfelt congratulations to Mike, his wife, his mother, and his entire family. After so much uncertainty, today there is relief,” Pieters expressed. But according to the PPA faction leader, the case must also become a lesson for Aruban politics.
Proposal for change in the legal framework
Pieters recalled that Parliament previously discussed a proposal to amend the LIM law, similar to what has existed in the Netherlands for many years, limiting the arbitrary prosecution of a politician who remains under investigation or accusation for years without a resolution. According to Pieters, this does not mean protecting politicians who do wrong, but rather leaving the investigation of a politician in the hands of the Attorney General (PG) appointed for life in the Kingdom, so they can initiate prosecution on strong grounds. “If a politician does wrong, they must bear the consequences. But neither can we accept that any accusation destroys a person politically, while years later it turns out the accusation had no basis.”
Where was his own party?
The most political part of Pieters’ message was directed at the AVP party. According to Pieters, during the period of uncertainty, De Meza did not receive the political support one would normally expect from the leadership of his own party.
Pieters specifically questioned the position of AVP leader and current Prime Minister, Mr. Mike Eman, who failed to make a decision when he needed to, allowing the Council of Ministers to continue the instruction to prosecute De Meza. Furthermore, people still remember that at the very moment De Meza was in Court, this government was busy with activities in Caya Grandi (a street behind the Court), unable to even come to the Court to give moral and political support to a colleague.
“When your number two on the list is going through a difficult time, leadership is measured by whether you stand by their side or turn your back.”
According to Pieters, now that the case has reached a favorable outcome for De Meza, it is easy for politicians to approach, congratulate, and celebrate. Total hypocrisy and political double standards were on full display within the party, because where were they during the entire period of uncertainty? “Today you see everyone coming to hug and congratulate. But politics cannot work like that. When you stand for something, you must also stand firm when the situation is difficult.”
Pieters questions the coalition vote
He pointed out that during the vote on the LIM law amendment proposed by De Meza, the majority of the AVP-FUTURO coalition did not support the proposed change, while some individual parliamentarians did adopt a different stance. Thus, the public can see here that even the majority of his colleagues in his own AVP fraction left Mike de Meza out in the cold. For Pieters, the current outcome forces Parliament to reconsider the discussion. “Now the public can see why De Meza and PPA agreed with the law change: precisely to avoid this unpleasant situation.”
According to Pieters, the Rule of Law has two simultaneous obligations: to investigate and punish when there is a crime, but also to protect citizens against a process that can drag on indefinitely and cause irreparable damage to their reputation, family, and professional career.
Political differences must not eliminate respect
Despite his harsh criticism of AVP, Pieters dedicated words of respect to his colleague De Meza. “The respect that De Meza and I have for each other is mutual.” He described De Meza as an experienced parliamentarian with whom he can maintain professional conversations. “Although today we may be in different parties, we can still learn from each other.”
Furthermore, Pieters confirmed that he notices Mike de Meza’s supporters want him to return to PPA, noting that this is De Meza’s personal decision. “There are several other politicians from existing parties who want to get on the PPA list; that is a personal decision and we respect the process.” Pieters stated that he talks with parliamentarians from different factions regarding motions, amendments, and initiatives that can strengthen Parliament and benefit Aruba.
For Pieters, that must be the essence of politics: national interest before partisan interest.
“Mike, you did it”
Pieters finalized his message with personal congratulations, but also with a warning to the political world. “Mike, you did it. Congratulations and success.”
Yet the message behind the congratulations was much greater. For Pieters, Aruban politics must learn to differentiate between guilt and accusation, between loyalty and convenience, and between standing by a colleague when they are strong and standing by them when their political future is in doubt. Because, according to the PPA faction leader, it is precisely in those difficult moments that the public can see who is truly a leader.