person cannot be vice president and a Member of Parliament. The parliamentary committee that was tasked with checking the credentials of all of the new members made it clear that Article 94 of the Constitution clearly states that the VP can’t hold any other public  position. Brunswijk repeatedly insisted that “I am the VP until another VP has been elected.” He referred to the Constitution to back up his claim but did not mention which article in the Constitution gives him the right to hold on to the vice presidency while being the deputy chairman of  parliament.  It would seem that Brunswijk wants to hold on to the ability to manoeuvre politically while the new coalition is still ‘under construction.’

Brunswijk made it clear that he realizes that there are people who support him but that there are also people who oppose him. “Not everybody has to love you. But the most important thing is to to do your job in good conscience.”

A member of the committee explained that there is no transition rule for the vice presidency while there is one for ministers and deputy ministers. “When the VP joins parliament he constitutionally exits his office. This is how we prevent  a constitutional void where a person is both VP and MP.” Brunswijk warned that talks would follow in the next phase and that he would keep fighting for the position of his party, ABOP.