ABOP dissatisfied with coalition agreements: Brunswijk leaves departure open

“If, for example, the bucket overflows, what will happen? Then we will leave,” Brunswijk said in an interview with ABC Actueel. He stressed that ABOP will continue to support the government for the time being, but that there is dissatisfaction within his party over various developments.

According to Brunswijk, he has discussed several issues directly with President Jennifer Simons. One of his objections is that directors and other officials affiliated with ABOP are, according to him, being removed from ministries and parastatal institutions or being hindered in carrying out their duties.

Patience is running out

Brunswijk warns that, in his view, this situation cannot continue indefinitely. “You have patience, but patience runs out at a certain point,” he stated. According to the ABOP leader, a relatively minor issue could ultimately be enough to place further pressure on the partnership.

A major point of contention, according to him, concerns agreements within the coalition on positions for which ABOP was allowed to nominate candidates. Brunswijk states that these agreements were made in the presence of other coalition partners, but that not all of them have been implemented.

“These were clear agreements that other partners were also present for, and those matters have not been honoured,” the politician said.

Brunswijk had previously also drawn attention to unimplemented coalition agreements. In July, he indicated that, according to him, there were several outstanding agreements that had to be dealt with. (Suriname Herald)

Criticism of NDP’s attitude

During the interview, Brunswijk also addressed the NDP. According to him, the party must take the other coalition partners into account.

“The NDP simply thinks it won the elections. The NDP did not win the elections. The NDP has 18 seats, and with 18 seats you cannot do anything,” Brunswijk said. (Waterkant)

He believes ABOP should be involved in decisions affecting the party or officials nominated by it. “We want to be heard and to be informed,” the ABOP chairman said.

According to Brunswijk, complaints regularly emerge during party meetings about the treatment of persons affiliated with ABOP.

He also criticised the relationship between management boards and Supervisory Boards. According to him, a president-commissioner must supervise an organisation’s functioning, but must not “sit in the director’s chair”.

Talk with President Simons

Brunswijk says he has now discussed the problems extensively with President Simons. During a recent meeting, he reportedly told her that, in his view, the situation was not progressing properly.

Simons subsequently assured him that there would be improvement. “The president gave me her word, so I will wait,” Brunswijk said.

For the time being, ABOP is therefore opting to continue consultations. However, Brunswijk stressed that the party will continue to defend its supporters and the officials it has nominated.

“We are not going to throw our people to the sharks like that,” the ABOP chairman said.

According to him, the party will therefore continue to monitor how the situation within the coalition develops. Brunswijk explicitly leaves open the possibility that ABOP will end the partnership if, in his view, a limit is reached.