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Mike Eman | |
|---|---|
 Eman in 2015 | |
| 3rd & 5thPrime Minister of Aruba | |
| Assumed office 28 March 2025 | |
| Monarch | Willem-Alexander |
| Governor-General | Alfonso Boekhoudt |
| Preceded by | Evelyn Wever-Croes |
| In office 30 October 2009 – 17 November 2017 | |
| Monarchs | Beatrix Willem-Alexander |
| Governor | Fredis Refunjol Alfonso Boekhoudt |
| Preceded by | Nelson Oduber |
| Succeeded by | Evelyn Wever-Croes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michiel Godfried Eman (1961-09-01)1 September 1961 (age 64) |
| Party | Aruban People's Party |
| Spouse | Doina Neagoy |
Michiel Godfried "Mike"Eman (born 1 September 1961) is anAruban politician currently serving as the 5thPrime Minister of Aruba. He previously served as the 3rd Prime Minister from 2009 to 2017[1][2] His political career began in 2001, but Eman has been involved in politics in one way or another since his childhood. His grandfather, father and brother were all prominent politicians in their lifetimes, withHenny Eman having preceded him in office (twice) as Prime Minister, including as the first to hold the office after Aruba's status aparte in 1986.
Eman is a graduate of theUniversity of the Netherlands Antilles (UNA, now known as theUniversity of Curaçao) earning his law degree in 1992 with the thesisThe Position of the Institution of the Public Prosecutor vis à vis the Minister of Justice in a Small Scale Community. In 1996 he earned a degree in vivil notary law from the same university.[citation needed]
From 1992 to 2001, Eman worked as a deputy civil law notary and co-founded several private commercial ventures and foundations for political studies.
He began his formal political career in September 2001, when he appeared 3rd on the list of the AVP. The 2001 elections did not go in favor of the AVP causing the party to lose 4 seats in the parliament. This led to the decision of the AVP leader,Tico Croes, to relinquish position. The leadership was handed over to the former minister of Justice,Pedro E. (Eddy) Croes. Mike Eman became the party's VP and the minority whip leader in parliament. subsequently Eman was elected party leader in 2003. After the 2009 elections, the AVP regained 2 seats, and Eman's part became thus the majority party in parliament.
Eman's first cabinet was sworn in on October 30, 2009, following his party's decisive victory in the 2013 election; his second cabinet was sworn in on 30 October 2013.[3]
In 2017, he said at the contract signing of theSunrise Solar Park, "Aruba has proven the world that, although we are limited in size, we can have big dreams and important goals. Maybe we inherited an arid soil, but we are blessed with an abundance of sun and wind to turn that into energy and well being for our society. We have translated those gifts into a vision to make our island totally sustainable by 2020."[4]
Following the2017 general election Eman's party lost its majority in theParliament of Aruba. Eman subsequently announced that he would resign as party leader and that he would not take a seat in the upcoming parliament.[5][6]
Following the 2024 general election, Eman formed a coalition between his party; AVP, and FUTURO.[2]
Eman was born inOranjestad,Aruba and raised inRancho, to Albert (Shon A) Eman, at the time leader of the AVP and his wife Blanche Eman-Harthogh. Mike became the youngest brother of Maria Albertina (Chuchu),Jan Hendrik Albert (Henny), Melva, Godlieb, Siegfried (Ven), Frederik Everhard (Braat), and Albert.
Eman isJewish and plays an active role in the Jewish community and has worked to promote the presence ofChabad in Aruba.[7][8] His mother was a Sephardic Jew from Suriname and his father was Protestant.[9]
