Member of Parliament Xiomara Maduro has reiterated the firm stance of the MEP faction during the debate on the Kingdom Law HOFA for Financial Supervision (RAft). During her intervention, she emphasized that while the faction recognizes the importance of supervision to achieve healthy finances, this cannot come at the expense of the country’s right to self-governance.
Defense of Autonomy
The core focus of the faction is the defense of Aruba’s autonomy. Maduro explained that MEP opposes having supervision imposed through a Rijkswet (Kingdom Law) HOFA, as this limits Aruba’s capacity to decide on its own budget and future. Instead, the faction opts to maintain the supervision under the local law, the LAft.
The Interest Rate Dilemma
Maduro questioned the manner in which the Netherlands is using the pandemic loans as a tool for leverage. The situation presents a dilemma for the island:
Low Interest: The Netherlands offers a reduction in the interest rate if Aruba accepts the HOFA.
High Price: The “price” for that lower interest rate is the partial surrender of national autonomy to The Hague.
Priority for the People
The MP underlined that the ultimate goal is to reach a fair agreement that allows Aruba to have more financial resources to invest in priority areas such as education, healthcare, and safety. However, she clarified that these investments cannot be bought at the expense of the country’s dignity.
MEP Faction: Financial supervision yes, but without surrendering Aruba autonomy
