Why Politics?
I don’t believe politics should be a lifelong career. Politicians should bring their vision, execute their action plan, and then return to their careers. Only through political action can we achieve structural changes in the administration, management, regulations, and laws of our country.
What makes Miguel the right person for politics?
Above all, politics should produce results in the daily lives of our citizens, and I have shown that I can achieve this. My qualities include determination, conviction, perseverance, innovation, and not accepting “no” as an answer.
How do you stay ‘Updated’?
It’s essential to read widely on all topics, especially biographies of leaders in their respective areas of expertise. I attend conferences, expos, and seminars to learn about innovations, best practices, and to exchange ideas.
How do you maintain human connection in a Social Media era?
I always ensure I’m available for anyone who requests a meeting and connect with voters through social, sports, educational, and various other activities. It’s crucial to get out in the community to better understand what our people are experiencing and thinking.
Most urgent challenges?
The cost of living, the ecological crisis, and the revitalization of San Nicolas are the top three challenges facing the next government. The cost of living is burdensome for our citizens, and the ecological crisis not only threatens our tourism industry but also our community’s future.
Crucial areas for action?
The ecological crisis is not only a threat to our tourism industry but also jeopardizes a healthy environment for future generations. We want to limit the number of visitors as a first step to addressing the current overcapacity. This will improve our tourism product, stop environmental degradation, and encourage the diversification of our economy.
What defines an honest politician?
I believe an honest politician must always stand by their principles. A politician should be financially stable and willing to sacrifice their career to uphold integrity. Politicians should also be highly skilled in their field of expertise; we need the best minds guiding our country, not just the most popular ones.
How do you maintain honesty in politics?
We aim to remove private donations from politics by introducing publicly funded elections. The need for private donations creates a conflict of interest between the politician/party and private individuals or entities.
Ideal term for a political career?
I believe a political career should last between 8 and 16 years at most. Continuous renewal in politics is essential; bring your vision, execute your plan, and then step aside to allow for fresh ideas and new talent.
Vision for the next 4 years?
Our focus will be on the economy and finance, starting with comprehensive fiscal reform, including redesigning our tax system to ensure sufficient revenue for the government while making our economy more competitive. Eliminating income tax and transitioning to a non-cumulative tax system is essential to reduce the cost of living and create a more favorable investment climate. We will also invest more in education, healthcare, the creative industries, and economic diversification.
How do you plan to achieve the changes you seek?
We will redesign our tax system, including the elimination of income tax. Agreeing to the financial supervision act could save us over 150 million in interest expenses annually. Eliminating cumulative taxes like BBO/BAZV/BAVP and transitioning to VAT is key. We will introduce a pilot program to subsidize 600 creatives with a minimum wage, create an innovation development fund to invest in sustainable industries, develop a multi-functional port in San Nicolas, turn Aruba into a duty-free port, develop a local capital market, and more.
“Over the past three years, I have demonstrated exceptional effectiveness, submitting three legislative initiatives, with a fourth in progress. This is more than any parliamentarian in Aruba’s history, and only one other member in the Kingdom has delivered four initiatives. I’ve made over 776 ministerial inquiries, presented 11 amendments, and collaborated on over 30 motions, proving my capacity to effect change. I am not afraid to make tough decisions, supporting government measures that are in the national interest, like LNT, and firmly opposing irresponsible budgets and dubious deals like Eagle LNG. Based on my track record, a vote for Miguel is a vote for genuine representation, reliable change, and a better life for every Aruban.”