Eugene Rhuggenaath
# Eugene Rhuggenaath

Eugene Rhuggenaath (born 4 February 1970) is a Curaçaoan politician who served as the 7th prime minister of Curaçao between 29 May 2017 and 14 June 2021. He previously served as Minister for Economic Development in the Koeiman-Cabinet in 2016. He served as a member of the Island Council (2003–2009) and a member of parliament till 2021.

During the 2017 Curaçao general election his party received the most votes. Rhuggenaath was appointed formateur by the governor to form a coalition government.

Rhuggenaath was sworn in as prime minister on 29 May 2017.

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

During the 2020 COVID-19 crisis, Rhuggenaath initially refused to accept a financial aid package by the Netherlands due to disagreements over salary cuts and labor reforms pushed by the latter. Ultimately the conditions of the financial aid package were accepted, the conditions still haven't been 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 subevent 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 COVID-19 crisis, the Financial Supervisory Board already flagged Rhuggenaath's government several times preceding the COVID-19 crisis that it was in breach of the debt rules imposed as part the debt relief scheme implemented by the Netherlands in 2010.

The two governments reached an agreement in October 2020 that gave Curaçao more autonomy and power over COVID-19 investments and loans.

Rhuggenaath was elected for parliament in the 2021 Curaçao general election, but relinquished his seat.

