A new political debate has emerged regarding the legality of changes to ministerial portfolios within the Government of Aruba. According to information received by the editorial desk, the National Decree on the Organization of Ministries (Landsbesluit Inrichting Ministeries – LIM), which regulates how ministerial portfolios are distributed, has not yet been signed by the Governor nor officially approved by the Parliament of Aruba in the form in which it was introduced.
Although the current government included the LIM in the national budget and Parliament voted to approve the budget of the country of Aruba, this does not necessarily mean that Parliament agreed with the LIM itself as included within that budget.
According to the information received, until this legal procedure is completed, the portfolio changes introduced by the AVP–FUTURO coalition government cannot be considered officially in force.
Debate Over the Kingdom Relations Portfolio
One of the central points in the discussion concerns the role of Minister Gerlien Croes in matters related to Kingdom Relations. According to legal interpretations circulating in political circles, the portfolio for Kingdom Relations has traditionally been directly linked to the office of the Prime Minister of Aruba.
This means that for another minister to formally perform this role, additional legal adjustments would be required and, in some cases, direct authorization from the Prime Minister.
Critics argue that without the necessary legal steps — including approval by Parliament and the signature of the Governor — a change of ministerial portfolio cannot be considered fully legal under the Statute and the current regulations of the country of Aruba.
Awaiting the Opinion of the Council of Advice
The situation has become more significant because a formal opinion from the Council of Advice (Raad van Advies) regarding the LIM is still pending. Previously, according to public information, the advisory body had already expressed concerns about the way the portfolio changes were proposed.
According to the preliminary advice, the new structure of certain ministries may not be the most appropriate option according to legal analysis.
Questions About Compliance with the Law
Political critics are questioning whether the government is following all necessary legal and institutional procedures. The debate focuses on whether the current decisions respect the law, regulations, and the Statute of Aruba.
Additionally, questions are being raised about whether partners in the Netherlands are aware of the situation and the possible institutional implications of these changes.
One Year of Government Under Scrutiny
The AVP–FUTURO coalition government has now been in power for approximately one year. While governing parties emphasize progress and economic stability, critics describe the period as one marked by political tensions and institutional questions.
The discussion surrounding the LIM, the restructuring of ministerial portfolios, and the role of various ministers continues to dominate the current political debate. Observers are expecting that the final opinion of the Council of Advice will provide more clarity regarding the legality of the situation and the next steps the government may need to take.
At the moment, the LIM of the previous government remains in force. The AVP–FUTURO government has been governing for one year without implementing a new LIM, yet continues to operate as if the changes were already legally valid and assigns titles to ministers that may not have legal basis.
The question therefore arises whether the Netherlands is aware of what critics describe as this “cosmetic position.” If the LIM has not been officially changed, it would mean that Minister Gerlien Croes does not have the legal authority to call herself Minister of Kingdom Relations.
This leaves an important question: Does Aruba currently have a government that is operating contrary to the law?