Eugene Rhuggenaath

Eugene Rhuggenaath (born 4 February 1970)[1][2] is a Curaçaoan politician and party leader of the Partido Alternativa Real (PAR). He was Minister for Economic Development in the Cabinet-Koeiman in 2016. He was a member of the Island Council of Curaçao between 2003 and December 2009 and of the Estates of Curaçao since May 2017.

Eugene Rhuggenaath
Prime Minister of Curaçao
Assumed office
29 May 2017
MonarchWillem-Alexander
GovernorLucille George-Wout
Preceded byGilmar Pisas
Minister for Economic Development
In office
30 November 2015  24 March 2017
Prime MinisterBen Whiteman
Hensley Koeiman
Preceded byStanley Palm
Succeeded byErrol Goeloe
Member of the Island council of Curaçao
In office
2003–2009
Member of the Estates of Curaçao
In office
11 May 2017  29 May 2017
Personal details
Born (1970-02-04) 4 February 1970
Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles
NationalityDutch
Political partyPartido Alternativa Real (Real Alternative Party, PAR)

During the Curaçao general election of 2017 his party received most votes. Rhuggenaath was tasked to form a new coalition government by Governor Lucille George-Wout with his Party, Partido MAN and Partido Inovashon Nashonal.[3]

Rhuggenaath was sworn in as Prime Minister on 29 May 2017.[4]

On 29 September 2017 Rhuggenaath held a speech calling for more acceptance at the Curaçao Gay Pride, activists called the speech "historical".[5][6]

During the COVID19 crisis of 2020, Rhuggenaath refused to accept a financial aid package by the Netherlands, while 20 per cent of the population was dependent on food aid. Ultimately the conditions of the financial aid package were accepted, the conditions still have to be implemented, requiring sacrifices in the exuberant loans in the Public Sector. At the same time, Rhuggenaath and his cabinet raised their salaries in order to subvent the conditions of the financial aid package. Meanwhile the National Debt has risen to around 100 per cent of GDP, after the Netherlands provided a debt relief package in 2010, achieving a 28 per cent National Debt compared to GDP. Furthermore Standard and Poor's Sovereign ratings lowered its expectations due to financial mismanagement preceding the COVID19 crisis, the Financial Supervisory Board already flagged Rhuggenaath's government several times preceding the COVID19 crisis that it was in breach of the debt rules imposed as part the debt relief scheme implemented by the Netherlands in 2010.

References

  1. "Eugene Rhuggenaath". Government of Curaçao. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019.
  2. "High Expectations For New Minister Of Economic Development". Curaçao Chronicle. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  3. "Rhuggenaath is now 'formateur'". The Daily Herald. 12 May 2017.
  4. "New Curaçao Government Under The Leadership Of Rhuggenaath Sworn In". The Curaçao Chronicle. 29 May 2017.
  5. "'Historical' Speech Prime Minister Curaçao During Gay Pride". Curaçao Chronicle. 29 September 2017. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017.
  6. "'Historische' toespraak premier Curaçao op Gay Pride". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). 29 September 2017. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017.
Political offices
Preceded by
Gilmar Pisas
Prime Minister of Curaçao
2017–present
Incumbent


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