Nelson Oduber Prime Minister of Aruba Country: Aruba

Nelson Oduber: A Biography

Nelson Oduber is a political figure and former Prime Minister of Aruba. He is also the leader of the "Movimiento Electoral di Pueblo" (MEP), which is the People's Electoral Movement in English.

Oduber first became Prime Minister in 1989 and served until 1994 when his party lost the parliamentary elections. However, he returned to office on October 30, 2001. Under his leadership, the MEP achieved consecutive victories in the local elections of 2001, receiving 52.4% of the votes and securing 12 out of 21 seats. They also won in 2005, obtaining 43% of the votes and 11 seats. This was the first occurrence of back-to-back victories since Aruba obtained its special status as a separate state.

As the Prime Minister, Oduber officially represents the Queen of the Netherlands. However, he holds significant power within the country. Known for his somewhat paranoid nature, Oduber has been involved in various political battles. One notable instance was his opposition to supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. He has also voiced his concerns regarding the placement of American military bases on the island, particularly the FOL project.

On May 28, 2001, Oduber and other Aruban politicians had the opportunity to discuss a previously signed agreement with the United States regarding the placement of American military bases on Aruba. Despite protests from various organizations, including environmental groups, Oduber made it clear that the Aruban government fully supported the idea. The installation of these bases was expected to bring substantial economic investments to the education sector. Additionally, the FOL project aimed to combat the local issue of drug trafficking.

On February 6, 2003, Prime Minister Oduber strongly expressed his disapproval of Chávez's actions. Chávez had announced the need to establish branches of the far-left Venezuelan party "Bolivarian Circles" outside of Venezuela, particularly in Latin American countries and the Caribbean region. In his speech, Chávez implied that the ideology of the Aruban government did not align with the beliefs of the Bolivarian Circles. As a result, Oduber stated that the Minister of Justice, Rudy Croes, should enhance the monitoring of the political and social activities of foreigners to maintain a peaceful and stable situation in the country.