Parliamentarian Endy Croes launched strong criticism this week against the attitude of the AVP faction in Parliament, describing their behavior as “childish” and lacking political courage. According to Croes, the parliamentarians of the green party are hiding behind legal advice to avoid explaining to the public why they support a Kingdom Law that could compromise Aruba’s autonomy.
During an official statement, Croes responded to the position of Parliamentarian Stephanie Sievinger, who indicated that it is necessary to wait for the advice of the Council of State before holding an in-depth debate. For Croes, this is a delaying tactic intended to please AVP leader Mike Eman and ministers Geoffrey Wever and Gerlien Croes, who are formally in favor of the Kingdom Law.
Lack of opinion and backbone
Croes questioned the integrity of the people’s representatives within the AVP faction.
“You must, as a parliamentarian, be able to stand for an opinion. Can they not say whether they are ‘for’ or ‘against’?” he stated.
He emphasized that there are already more than 10,000 signatures from citizens and 13 labor unions expressing total rejection of the proposed Kingdom Law, which he argued should be sufficient grounds for a representative to take a clear position.
The parliamentarian referred to members Sievinger, Bermudez, Hart, Sneek, and Arends as a group allowing a “small party” within the coalition to make decisions that do not align with the wishes of the community. He labeled them as “rubber-stamp parliamentarians” without “backbone,” arguing that they are placing party interests and those of Mike Eman above the general interest of Aruba.
Constitutional and economic arguments
- The will of the people is not being respected: Croes recalled the referendum of March 25, 1977, in which 82.5% of the population voted for Status Aparte.
- Unconstitutionality: He cited the opinion of Professor Elzenga, who explained that the structure of this Kingdom Law conflicts with the constitution.
- Economic slowdown: He referred to a report by the Netherlands Court of Audit indicating that the first ten years of similar Kingdom Laws in Curaçao and Sint Maarten hindered their economic development.
The “Hotel California” of politics
Drawing a comparison with the situation in 2020 during the pandemic, Croes explained that at that time negotiations led to the removal of the “COHO” proposal from the table and its replacement with a mutual arrangement that included a concrete exit clause after five years.
However, he criticized the current protocol signed on August 29, 2025, by the government of Mike Eman, stating that it does not include a clear exit option.
“For me, it is a ‘Hotel California’; you can enter, but you can never leave,” Croes warned, suggesting that Aruba could become tied to the Netherlands without a realistic prospect of regaining full autonomy in the near future.
A call to the people
Finally, Croes called on the public to remember statements made by Mike Eman in 2014, when he declared during a hunger strike that he would not “move even one millimeter to give up autonomy,” even if the Netherlands were to pay the country’s debt.
“What has changed? How is it that you have now turned 180 degrees?” Croes asked, stating that Parliament must fulfill its duty in the coming days together with civic movements and labor unions to stop the proposed law.