Evelyn Wever-Croes

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Evelyn Wever-Croes
4th Prime Minister of Aruba
Assumed office
17 November 2017
MonarchWillem-Alexander
GovernorAlfonso Boekhoudt
Preceded byMike Eman
Minister of General Affairs, Integrity, Energy and Innovation
Assumed office
17 November 2017
MonarchWillem-Alexander
GovernorAlfonso Boekhoudt
Personal details
Born
Evelyna Christina Croes

(1966-12-05) 5 December 1966 (age 55)
Leiden, Netherlands
Political partyPeople's Electoral Movement
Spouse(s)Kenneth Wever

Evelyna Christina "Evelyn" Wever-Croes (born 5 December 1966) is an Aruban politician and current Prime Minister of Aruba, serving since November 2017. She is the first woman to hold this office. She is a member of the People's Electoral Movement (MEP) and has been the leader of the party since 2011.

Early life[]

Wever-Croes was born on 5 December 1966 in Leiden, the Netherlands.[1][2][3][note 1] She is daughter of  [nl].[2] She was born into a political family, with political activist Betico Croes and former Minister of Justice Rudy Croes being uncles of her.[2][4] Wever-Croes attended the voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs at the Colegio Arubano in Oranjestad.[3]

Wever-Croes studied Antillean law at the University of the Netherlands Antilles from 1985 to 1986. She then moved to the Netherlands and studied tax law at Leiden University from 1986 to 1989.[3] Wever-Croes worked for the tax inspection from 1989 to 2003, working as head of the department since 1994. From 2003 she worked at a law firm as a tax adviser at Croes, Wever & Tchong until 2010, concurrently working as a lawyer since 2008.[3]

Early political career[]

Wever-Croes became member of the Estates of Aruba on 29 October 2009, having been elected in the 2009 elections where she held the third position on the People's Electoral Movement list.[2][3] She was elected leader of the People's Electoral Movement in 2011.[3] Wever-Croes became parliamentary group leader in 2013.[3]

In the 2017 general election Wever-Croes' MEP obtained 9 seats. After nearly five weeks of negotiations she managed to form a coalition government under her leadership with the  [nl] (POR) and Network of Electoral Democracy (RED), the first Aruban coalition government in sixteen years, and the first Aruban government headed by a woman and subsequently becoming the first female Prime Minister.[5][6] Wever-Croes's cabinet was sworn in by Governor Alfonso Boekhoudt on 17 November 2017.[7][8] She was one of eight members of the Estates of Aruba to resign their seats to become part of the cabinet.[7]

Prime Minister[]

Cabinet Wever-Croes I[]

Wever-Croes's cabinet was sworn in by Governor Alfonso Boekhoudt on 17 November 2017.[7]

Ministry Minister Period Party
Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes Since 17 November 2017 MEP
Minister of General Affairs, Integrity, Energy and Innovation Evelyn Wever-Croes Since 17 November 2017 MEP
Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Glenbert Croes Since 17 November 2017 MEP
Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Culture  [nl] Since 17 November 2017 MEP
Minister of Tourism, Public Health and Sports Dangui Oduber Since 17 November 2017 MEP
Minister of Transport, Communication and Primary Sector Chris Romero Since 17 November 2017 MEP
Minister of Infrastructure and Environment  [nl]
Evelyn Wever-Croes
 [nl]
Evelyn Wever-Croes 		17 November 2017 – 12 December 2019[9]
12 December 2019 – 28 January 2020
28 January 2020[10] – 22 October 2020[11]
Since 22 October 2020[11]
MEP
POR
MEP
Minister of Justice and Immigration  [nl] Since 17 November 2017 POR
Minister of Education, Science and Sustainable Development  [nl] Since 17 November 2017 RED
Minister Plenipotentiary[note 2] Guillfred F. Besaril Since 20 November 2017 MEP

Although the coalition parties originally all wanted to have a government of seven Ministers they compromised at having eight. With five ministries going to the MEP, two to the POR and one to RED. The MEP also received the post of Minister Plenipotentiary.[6] Their coalition agreement was called "Together for Aruba" (Papiamento: Hunto pa Aruba.)[12] The parties agreed that the most important points were the financial situation, integrity and the welbeing of Aruban citizens.[13]

On 12 December 2019, Minister of Infrastructure and Environment, Otmar Oduber, resigned, stating health, family and personal reasons.[9] In June 2020, judicial authorities search former minister Oduber's house in relation to the corruption case Flamingo.[14]

In July 2020, tensions ran high within Wever-Croes's cabinet as Minister Andin Bikker and the POR withdrew confidence in Minister Marisol Lopez-Tromp. A meeting in the Estates organized to discuss a motion of no confidence in Lopez-Tromp was postponed last minute to allow for discussions to mend relations in the office of Wever-Croes.[15] The POR threatened to let the government lose its majority if Lopez-Tromp was not dismissed.[16] On 22 October 2020 Lopez-Tromp was dismissed from the cabinet as the majority of the cabinet, as well as the majority of the Estates, stated they did not support her anymore. Wever-Croes took over her portfolio. Wever-Croes stated that having Lopez-Tromp in the cabinet led to an "unworkable situation" which led to "doubt by the populace in government policy. We can not have that during a crisis period".[11][note 3] Lopez-Tromp stated that the influence of former minister Oduber over the government was one of the reasons she clashed with her own former party, the Estates and cabinet.[14] In November 2020 Wever-Croes, as Minister of Infrastructure, depoliticized land issuing by the government by making it the responsibility of the Director of Infrastructure and Planning and at the same time introduced a two-man rule.[17]

Financial policies[]

As the previous government ran a government budget deficit, Wever-Croes shortly after taking office announced that she wanted to introduce budget cuts and initiate talks with the Netherlands about future financial agreements.[5] One of her first measures was to limit the staff attached to each minister.[6] By the next year she had put a cap on government salaries and hoped to put forward a financial recovery plan in June, to avoid an intervention by the Dutch government.[18] In November 2018 Aruba and the Netherlands agreed on budgetary rules for the period 2019–2021 and to have the  [nl] (CAft) be in place for at least a further three years.[19][20] Under Wever-Croes an accord was reached in 2019 on an Aruban fiscal council to succeed the CAft per 2021.[21]

In October 2019 Raymond Knops, the State Secretary for the Interior and Kingdom Relations indicated he wanted to give Aruba a formal instruction in the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on advice of the CAft, as Aruba did not obey fully by the agreement made the previous year.[22] The next month Wever-Croes flew to the Netherlands to attend the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and managed that a formal instruction was not given.[23] In April 2020 Wever-Croes stated that she had managed to make a yearly budget saving of 27 million Aruban florin.[24]

COVID-19 pandemic in Aruba[]

In order to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in Aruba Wever-Croes instated a curfew between 21:00 and 06:00 starting from 21 March 2020. When she took the measure five persons had tested positive on the island. She also introduced a measure that temporarily banned Aruban residents from returning to the country from abroad.[25]

During 2020 the financial position of Aruba was severely affected due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Aruba, with government revenue falling by 80%. In response the Wever-Croes cut salaries of higher government officials and civil servants by 20% for the period May until December, while also lowering the salaries of regular civil servants with 12.6%. In April 2020 she introduced the Wever-Croes standard, which permanently limited the salary of directors of state run enterprises up till 130% of the salary of the Prime Minister.[24]

In March 2020 Wever-Croes asked the Netherlands to be supported by a gift of 400 million Euro. The Netherlands rejected the wish and stated it would help but not via the form of a gift.[26] On 16 May Wever-Croes agreed to a first financial aid package subject to certain conditions.[27] By July 2020 Wever-Croes was in negotiations with the Netherlands for a third financial aid package and received a list of 18 new conditions for reforms set by the Netherlands.[28][29] She wrote a complaint letter to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on the severity of the terms, stating: "It’s almost as if Aruba has become the country-version of the American George Floyd and our own Mitch Henriquez. Mark, we can’t breathe like this".[28] Wever-Croes, with the leaders of Curaçao and Sint Maarten shortly afterwards rejected the terms the Netherlands had set.[30] Over July and August Aruba did not receive financing from the Netherlands.[31] In September 2020 the Wever-Croes government obtained 171 million Aruban florin on the local market.[32] The financial negotions with the Netherlands were still ongoing during October 2020.[33] Mid-November she reached an agreement with the Netherlands, which comprised both short and long term financial support as a wel as the founding of a "Caribbean entity" charged with handling reforms in governance, finances, education and health care. The agreement also included help of the Netherlands with Aruban debts, allowing for interest benefits. Wever-Croes stated that the Caribbean entity would not take over competences from the Aruban government.[34]

In early October 2020 Wever-Croes stated that financial support measures for businesses would be continued for a further three months.[33]

Other policies[]

Wever-Croes has stated that she sees it as priority to have more women run for political office.[4]

By mid 2018 Aruba was faced with around 5,000 Venezuelans who had fled their country.[35] Wever-Croes stated that the Netherlands was "indifferent" about the influx. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated that Aruba is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and that Aruba should request aid if it needs it.[36]

Cabinet Wever-Croes II[]

Wever-Croes's cabinet was sworn in for her second term by Governor Alfonso Boekhoudt on 21 September 2021.[7]

Ministry Minister Period Party
Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes Since 17 November 2017 MEP
Minister of General Affairs, Innovation, Government Organization, Infrastructure & Spatial Planning Evelyn Wever-Croes Since 1 January 2022 MEP
Minister of Economic Affairs, Communication & Sustainable Development Geoffrey Wever Since 1 January 2022 RAIZ
Minister of Integrity, Nature & Elderly Care Ursell Arends Since 1 January 2022 RAIZ
Minister of Tourism & Public Health Dangui Oduber Since 1 January 2022 MEP
Minister of Finance & Culture Xiomara Maduro Since 1 January 2022 MEP
Minister of Justice & Social Affairs Rocco Tjong Since 1 January 2022 MEP
Minister of Labor, Immigration & Energy Glembert Croes Since 1 January 2022 MEP
Minister of Education & Sports Endy Croes Since 1 January 2022 MEP
Minister Plenipotentiary[note 4] Guillfred F. Besaril Since 1 January 2022 MEP

Personal life[]

Wever-Croes is married to Kenneth Wever.[3][37] She has two daughters and a son.[38] She is a grandma of one grandchild.[4]

In October 2020 Wever-Croes stated that she received a security detail after death threats were made against her.[39]

Notes[]

  1. ^ While her Estates biography stated she was born on Aruba, other sources indicate she was born in the Netherlands, which she has also stated herself in an interview with Radio Nederland Wereldomroep.
  2. ^ The Minister Plenipotentiary is not formally part of the Aruban cabinet.
  3. ^ Wever-Croes referred to the COVID-19 pandemic in Aruba.
  4. ^ The Minister Plenipotentiary is not formally part of the Aruban cabinet.

References[]

  1. ^ The American Bar. J.C. Fifield Company. 2009. p. 2245.
  2. ^ a b c d Jos de Roo (7 September 2009). "Evelyn Wever-Croes wil MEP vernieuwen" (in Dutch). Radio Nederland Wereldomroep. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Mr. E. C. Wever-Croes (MEP)" (in Dutch). Estates of Aruba. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b c J. Kelly Hoey (20 November 2018). "Aruba: Where Women Lead". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Aruba heeft voor het eerst vrouwelijke premier" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 18 November 2017. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Rasmijn, Ariën (16 November 2017). "Nieuwe regering Aruba staat klaar" (in Dutch). Caribisch Network NTR. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d "Aruba has a new cabinet". The Daily Herald. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Aruba has a new cabinet". sxm-talks.com. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Minister Otmar Oduber treedt af" (in Dutch). Government of Aruba. 17 September 2019. Archived from the original on 29 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Gouverneur beëdigt Minister Marisol Lopez-Tromp" (in Dutch). Government of Aruba. 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020.
  11. ^ a b c Henriquez, Sharina (25 October 2020). "Ontslagen minister: 'werkelijke reden is mijn gevecht tegen corruptie'" (in Dutch). Caribbean Network NTR. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Regeerprogramma Kabinet Wever-Croes" (in Dutch). Gobierno Aruba. November 2017. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Wever-Croes: met trots, respect en visie" (in Dutch). Antilliaans Dagblad. 16 November 2017. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019.
  14. ^ a b Henriquez, Sharina (4 November 2020). "Ontslagen minister: 'nog steeds ministers in deze regering die corruptie in doofpot willen'". Caribbean Network NTR. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Regering Aruba probeert scherven te lijmen" (in Dutch). Antilliaans Dagblad. 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020.
  16. ^ "Nog geen motie van wantrouwen voor Arubaanse minister Lopez-Tromp". NU.cw. 2 August 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020.
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  18. ^ Kleinjan, Gerrit-Jan (1 June 2018). "Aruba wil geldprobleem zelf oplossen, liefst met een schappelijke lening" (in Dutch). Trouw. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
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  20. ^ "Overeenstemming Aruba en Nederland over financieel toezicht" (in Dutch). Rijksoverheid. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019.
  21. ^ "Council of Ministers approved the fiscal council". Government of Aruba. 14 June 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020.
  22. ^ "Aanwijzing Aruba dichterbij" (in Dutch). Antilliaans Dagblad. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020.
  23. ^ "Voorwaardelijke aanwijzing voor Aruba". Antilliaans Dagblad. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020.
  24. ^ a b "Wever-Croes norm ingevoerd op Aruba" (in Dutch). Antilliaans Dagblad. 22 April 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020.
  25. ^ Henriquez, Sharina (19 March 2020). "Verplichte avondklok voor Aruba" (in Dutch). Caribisch Netwerk NTR. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020.
  26. ^ Samson, John (28 March 2020). "Financiële hulp aan Aruba, Curaçao, Sint-Maarten wordt geen gift". Caribbean Network NTR. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020.
  27. ^ Rutten, Rik (21 May 2020). "Economische steun komt niet zonder voorwaarden, ook niet voor de eilanden" (in Dutch). NRC Handelsblad. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  28. ^ a b Henriquez, Sharina (7 July 2020). "Curaçao and Sint Maarten reject new Dutch demands". Caribbean Network NTR. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020.
  29. ^ "Nederland stuurt Aruba achttien nieuwe voorwaarden" (in Dutch). Nederlands Dagblad. 6 July 2020. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020.
  30. ^ Zuidervaart, Bart (9 July 2020). "Conflict over hulp aan Caribische eilanden nadert het kookpunt" (in Dutch). Trouw. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020.
  31. ^ "Wever-Croes: wees niet te optimistisch". Antilliaans Dagblad. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020.
  32. ^ "Aruba: leningen voor 171 miljoen" (in Dutch). Antilliaans Dagblad. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020.
  33. ^ a b "Nog zeker 3 maanden ondersteuning op Aruba" (in Dutch). Antilliaans Dagblad. 4 October 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020.
  34. ^ "Aruba akkoord met coronasteun en hervormingen onder Nederlands toezicht" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 13 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020.
  35. ^ Jurna, Nina (18 May 2018). "Premier Aruba hekelt gebrek steun bij opvang vluchtelingen uit Venezuela" (in Dutch). NRC Handelsblad. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  36. ^ "Premier Aruba: Nederland 'onverschillig' over vluchtelingenstroom Venezuela" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 27 May 2018.
  37. ^ "Echtgenoot MEP-leider eist 25.000 florin en rectificatie Diario". Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal. 27 October 2014. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020.
  38. ^ "Bijna vierhonderd actieve coronabesmettingen op Aruba" (in Dutch). Leeuwarder Courant. 8 August 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  39. ^ "Arubaanse minister-president onder bewaking na bedreiging met de dood" (in Dutch). Algemeen Dagblad. 3 October 2020. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020.
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