“Trust is the most important value in politics.” With this conviction, Eduard Pieters explained why the PPA faction could not support the 2026 Budget Law. Not because the figures are incorrect, but because of the way the government treated Parliament. When a government does not answer the legitimate questions of a parliamentarian, transparency dies and trust follows the same path.
A Budget That Appears Sound on Paper
Pieters did not shy away from acknowledging the facts: “When read critically, the budget complies with the LAFT law.” Aruba once again has a surplus, the 1% norm is respected, the collective sector is healthy, and the debt ratio has decreased. “We are on the right path in terms of financial management,” he stated. Precisely for this reason, the PPA faction was initially prepared to support the budget.
The Moment Arrogance Intervened
However, something changed along the way. The government suddenly came forward with a change a Nota di Cambio—ignoring what had been discussed earlier. A change that came “like a thief in the night,” with a clear objective: to sideline the LIM and ignore a historic amendment calling for equality within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. “You take the LIM, which Parliament approved, and you set it aside to do whatever you want,” Pieters criticized sharply.
Mockery of Parliament
According to Pieters, this is not merely a difference of political opinion; it is a direct mockery of Parliament. “You are looking for a technical-legal way to bypass Parliament,” he said. The message is dangerous: the highest body of the country, the voice of the people, is being minimized when it is inconvenient. Even their own colleague Mike de Meza was allowed to fall, an act Pieters described as “a clear sign of a lack of internal, institutional, and constitutional respect.”
Transparency Is Not Optional
“We are dealing with public funds,” Pieters reminded. As a parliamentarian, his duty is to safeguard the general welfare and ensure responsible financial management of taxpayers’ money. But without answers, without clarification, and without deeper explanation, support becomes impossible. Transparency is not a political option; it is a democratic obligation.
The PPA’s decision not to support the 2026 Budget is not an act of opposition for opposition’s sake. It is a stand for principle. “When a government mocks Parliament and shows arrogance by doing whatever it wants,” Pieters concluded, “democracy loses.” Aruba does not need less budget; Aruba needs more respect for Parliament, for the people, and for the rules we have set ourselves.
Press Release Parliamentarian Eduard Pieters (PPA)