AVP leader Mike Eman has announced that he will hand over the party leadership to Wendrick Cicilia during the party’s General Congress on Sunday, October 4. The announcement was made during a meeting at the Party House in Rancho, marking the next step in the party’s “Era di Relevo,” or leadership transition.
Eman, who has led the AVP for 25 years, said the time has come for a new generation to take on the responsibility of leading the party. He said that his decision is based on confidence in Cicilia and in the broader group of younger leaders within the AVP.
Cicilia has worked closely with Eman for years and is being presented by the party as part of the new generation of leadership. The formal transfer is scheduled to take place during the October 4 congress at the Aruba Marriott Resort Grand Ballroom, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The agenda is expected to include the leadership transition, changes to the party statutes and the presentation of a new party board.
During his message at the Party House, Eman reflected on his time as party leader and the importance of political renewal. He compared the AVP to a tree with deep roots in the community, saying that a political organization must not only preserve its history but also continue to adapt to the needs and realities of each generation.
Eman also made clear that stepping down as party leader does not mean withdrawing from community life. He said he intends to remain involved in the community, particularly through work with young people and volunteer activities. The AVP has likewise said that Eman will continue supporting the party and its new leadership after the transition.
The change in party leadership is taking place alongside Eman’s planned departure as prime minister. The AVP previously announced that he would end his term as prime minister on January 1, 2027, bringing an end to his current period of political leadership.
This creates a separate question for the AVP: who will succeed Eman as prime minister. Under the governing arrangement with FUTURO, the position remains with the AVP, meaning the party will have to decide who will take over the role.
Several names have been mentioned in connection with the future position, including Minister Arthur Dowers, President of Parliament Marlon Sneek and AVP parliamentary faction leader Jennifer Arends-Reyes. The AVP Party Council will ultimately have to consider and approve the party’s choice.
The future of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Energy and Telecommunications has also been part of discussions surrounding the upcoming changes. René Herdé was appointed minister on July 9, 2025, on a temporary basis after Mike de Meza was unable to take up a ministerial position while his legal situation was being reviewed.
That situation changed in August 2026, when the Public Prosecutor’s Office decided not to pursue the criminal case against de Meza following a review by a new prosecutor. A settlement was reached that cleared the way for de Meza to be considered eligible to serve as a minister.
Names including Clifford Heyliger and AVP parliamentarian Stephany Sevinger have also been mentioned in discussions about the future composition of the government. Sevinger’s potential appointment would involve consideration of the applicable ministerial screening rules.
For now, the immediate focus is the AVP congress on October 4, when the party is expected to formalize the transfer of leadership from Eman to Cicilia. The change marks a new stage for the AVP, while the party will also have to make decisions about the future composition of its leadership and government ahead of Eman’s departure as prime minister at the beginning of 2027.
