Aruban People's Party

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.

Aruban People's Party Arubaanse Volkspartij (Dutch) Partido di Pueblo Arubano (Papiamento)
Leader	Mike Eman
Founder	Henny Eman
Founded	1942
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
Politics of Aruba Political parties Elections

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

Election	Leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
1951	Henny Eman	4,510	35.32 (#1)	8 / 21	New
1955		2,533	17.57 (#2)	3 / 21	5
1959	Shon A. Eman	4,899	28.31 (#2)	6 / 21	3
1963		5,668	29.32 (#2)	6 / 21	0
1967		8,413	36.81 (#2)	8 / 21	2
1971	Dominico Croes	3,413	14.49 (#3)	3 / 21	3
1975	Rudy Frank	1,743	5.65 (#3)	1 / 21	2
1979	Henny Eman	6,063	18.50 (#2)	4 / 21	3
1983		8,102	22.57 (#2)	5 / 21	1

Aruba general elections

Election	Leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Status	Reference
1985	Henny Eman	11,480	31.33 (#2)	7 / 21	2	Coalition
1989		12,668	35.16 (#2)	8 / 21	1	Opposition
1993		15,621	39.18 (#1)	9 / 21	1	Opposition
1994		17,963	45.40 (#1)	10 / 21	1	Coalition
1997		19,476	43.53 (#1)	10 / 21	0	Coalition
2001		12,749	26.58 (#2)	6 / 21	4	Opposition
2005	Mike Eman	16,725	32.59 (#2)	8 / 21	2	Opposition
2009		26,485	48.03 (#1)	12 / 21	4	Majority	[13]
2013		33,103	57.28 (#1)	13 / 21	1	Majority	[14]
2017		23,385	39.86 (#1)	9 / 21	4	Opposition	[15]
2021		18,348	31.28 (#2)	7 / 21	2	Opposition	[16]
2024		17,872	32.21 (#1)	9 / 21	2	Coalition	[17]