The position of Kingdom Relations, in practice, carries responsibilities similar to those of a country’s Prime Minister and involves much more than simply visiting the Netherlands or participating in protocol activities, shopping, modeling, or social appearances. Today, the people of Aruba can see how the Raad van Advies provided appropriate guidance to the Government of Aruba regarding this position, particularly in decisions at the Rijksministerraad level within the Kingdom.
It is important to understand that this position should not be considered merely an opportunity to travel, model in the Netherlands, or seek popularity through superficial means. Recent history has shown that abusing one’s personal image or attempting to attract voters in a sensationalist way distracts from the real responsibilities of the office.
In contrast, Prime Minister Mike Eman has taken his responsibilities seriously, addressing the situation in Venezuela and coordinating with relevant departments and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Minister Gerlien Croes, with three previous candidacies, has shown the intention to claim all important portfolios, challenging rules and procedures to obtain the position of Kingdom Relations, which in practice is not an independent ministry.
The Raad van Advies explicitly recommended that the responsibility of Kingdom Relations should not be delegated or managed outside the framework of the Prime Minister, emphasizing the importance of taking this office seriously, with proper political experience—something Minister Gerlien Croes lacks. The recent situation confirms that this advice was correct and raises the question of whether certain politicians are truly prepared to handle responsibilities of this scope.