Aruban People's Party

Last updated
Aruban People's Party
Arubaanse Volkspartij (Dutch)
Partido di Pueblo Arubano (Papiamento)
Leader Mike Eman
Founder Henny Eman
Founded1942
Ideology Aruban regionalism
Conservatism
Christian democracy
Political position Centre-right [1]
Regional affiliation Christian Democrat Organization of America
International affiliation Centrist Democrat International
Colours  Green [2]
Parliament of Aruba
9 / 21
Website
AVP.aw

The Aruban People's Party (AVP; Dutch : Arubaanse Volkspartij, Papiamento : Partido di Pueblo Arubano) is a Christian-democratic political party in Aruba. The AVP was founded by Henny Eman in 1942, and the party sought autonomy for Aruba from the Netherlands Antilles.

Contents

Every government in Aruban history since 1985 has been formed by either the AVP or People's Electoral Movement. After the 2024 election the AVP currently leads a coalition with FUTURO.

History

The Aruban People’s Party was formed in 1942, [3] by Henny Eman [4] and sought independence from the Netherlands Antilles, but not the Netherlands. [3] [5] The AVP found its support from native Arubans while the Aruban Patriotic Party found its support among immigrants. [6] Members of the AVP who were more supportive of separatism broke away in the 1970s to form the People's Electoral Movement (MEP). [7] AVP and Reformistanan Uni Pa Bienestar (RUBA) merged for the 1983 elections, but their combined seat total fell from 6 to 5. [8]

Aruba became an autonomous constituent country. [3] The 1985 general election, the first one after autonomy was given to Aruba, produced a coalition government led by AVP leader Henny Eman. [9] Every government since 1985 has been formed by either the AVP or MEP. [10]

The 2017 general election resulted in the AVP losing four of its thirteen seats, with both the AVP and MEP winning nine seats each. No party had a majority in parliament until the formation of the coalition. Eman subsequently announced that he would resign the leadership of the AVP and that the AVP would become an opposition party. [11] A coalition was formed between AVP and FUTURO after the 2024 election. [12]

The AVP is a christian democratic party. [4]

Election results

Netherlands Antilles Island Council elections

ElectionLeaderVotes %Seats+/–
1951 Henny Eman 4,51035.32 (#1)
8 / 21
New
1955 2,53317.57 (#2)
3 / 21
Decrease2.svg 5
1959 Shon A. Eman 4,89928.31 (#2)
6 / 21
Increase2.svg 3
1963 5,66829.32 (#2)
6 / 21
Steady2.svg 0
1967 8,41336.81 (#2)
8 / 21
Increase2.svg 2
1971 Dominico Croes3,41314.49 (#3)
3 / 21
Decrease2.svg 3
1975 Rudy Frank1,7435.65 (#3)
1 / 21
Decrease2.svg 2
1979 Henny Eman 6,06318.50 (#2)
4 / 21
Increase2.svg 3
1983 8,10222.57 (#2)
5 / 21
Increase2.svg 1

Aruba general elections

ElectionLeaderVotes %Seats+/–StatusReference
1985 Henny Eman 11,48031.33 (#2)
7 / 21
Increase2.svg 2Coalition
1989 12,66835.16 (#2)
8 / 21
Increase2.svg 1Opposition
1993 15,62139.18 (#1)
9 / 21
Increase2.svg 1Opposition
1994 17,96345.40 (#1)
10 / 21
Increase2.svg 1Coalition
1997 19,47643.53 (#1)
10 / 21
Steady2.svg 0Coalition
2001 12,74926.58 (#2)
6 / 21
Decrease2.svg 4Opposition
2005 Mike Eman 16,72532.59 (#2)
8 / 21
Increase2.svg 2Opposition
2009 26,48548.03 (#1)
12 / 21
Increase2.svg 4Majority [13]
2013 33,10357.28 (#1)
13 / 21
Increase2.svg 1Majority [14]
2017 23,38539.86 (#1)
9 / 21
Decrease2.svg 4Opposition [15]
2021 18,34831.28 (#2)
7 / 21
Decrease2.svg 2Opposition [16]
2024 17,87232.21 (#1)
9 / 21
Increase2.svg 2Coalition [17]

References

  1. "Global Elections Round-Up: Last 12 Months". Fitch Solutions. 31 July 2018. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  2. "Kandidatenlijsten Verkiezingen 2013". Government of Aruba (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Schields 2016.
  4. 1 2 Caribisch Netwerk 2025.
  5. Allen & Heuvel 2021, p. 10.
  6. Lijphart 1977, p. 205.
  7. Lijphart 1977, p. 206.
  8. Hopkins 1985, p. 845.
  9. Lansford 2017, p. 1088.
  10. Nederlandse Omroep Stichting 2024.
  11. Caribisch Netwerk 2017.
  12. Stamper 2025.
  13. Election 2009.
  14. Election 2013.
  15. Election 2017.
  16. Election 2021.
  17. Election 2024.

Works cited

Books

Journals

News

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