Eduard Pieters (PPA): HOFA consent must be freely given and involve Parliament

ORANJESTAD — PPA parliamentarian Eduard Pieters has questioned whether the government alone can declare that Aruba has consented to the Kingdom Act on Sustainable Public Finances for Aruba (HOFA). Following the Tripartite meeting in Curaçao, he insisted that Parliament must have a meaningful role in decisions affecting Aruba’s autonomy and budgetary powers.

Pieters argues that agreements under Article 38 of the Charter must be voluntary. He questioned how freely Aruba could negotiate during the pandemic, when it urgently needed Dutch financial assistance. In his view, the conditions attached to that assistance placed Aruba under pressure.

PPA maintains its opposition to HOFA. Pieters warned that what Aruba accepts today could set a precedent for the future: consent must be freely given, democratic and involve effective parliamentary participation.