ORANJESTAD – While it was initially reported that the inauguration ceremony for the new Parliamentary Year would not go through as planned following the resignation of the Government of Aruba – and thus the dissolution of Parliament – the ceremony took place yesterday with participation of members of Parliament, the demissionary government, and the Governor of Aruba.
Traditionally, the ceremony for the inauguration of the new Parliamentary Year is focused on the plans of the Government of Aruba for the following year. The Governor of Aruba, His Excellency Mr. Alfonso Boekhoudt gives a speech in which he reviews the achievements of the past year and outlines the plans for the coming year. This year however, after the coalition government collapsed due to an internal dispute between the coalition partners on Monday, the Governor’s speech was focused on the upcoming elections, scheduled for December 6.
The Governor’s speech, which was shorter than usual, also lacked substance, given that it could not outline the plan for the Government of Aruba for the coming year. The event did display the usual pageantry, with a parade and the usual elegant and colorful fashion worn by Aruba’s political elite.
It did have a new twist, however: for the first time, the presidency of Parliament was not held by a member of the traditional MEP or AVP parties; rather, it went to Raymond Kamperveen, a member of the junior party in the demissionary coalition, Raiz.
The current Parliament will sit for only three months before Aruban voters are called to elect a new Parliament in December, and the winner of that election will be asked by the Governor to form a new government.
