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Mike Eman, the prime minister of Aruba, has unexpectedly announced he will step down on January 1 2027, ending one of the longest careers in the politics of the Caribbean country, which is part of the kingdom of the Netherlands.
Eman will first hand over the leadership of his Aruban People’s Party (AVP) in September, when he turns 65, after 25 years at the head of the party and a third term as prime minister.
He has named 30-year-old tourism minister Wendrick Cicilia as his preferred successor, a choice the AVP must confirm at a party congress in September.
The announcement, made at a party gathering on Monday evening, took the island by surprise. According to broadcaster NOS, even his coalition partner Futuro was not told in advance.
Vice-premier Gerlien Croes said her party wanted more information before responding. Eman’s spokesman said the prime minister had held the decision back to avoid being talked out of it.
The timing matters for The Hague. A multi-year package of Dutch financial support, tied to reforms on Aruba, runs until 2027, and the change of leadership comes only weeks after prime minister Rob Jetten used a Caribbean tour to announce an annual “kingdom conference” meant to reset relations between the Netherlands and its three autonomous Caribbean countries.
Eman’s exit could also reshape the balance on Aruba. The opposition MEP finished only around 300 votes behind the AVP at the last election and is pushing for new elections, raising the prospect of realignment once he leaves.
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