Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Aruba
Digraph:
AA
Type:
part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in
1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles
Capital:
Oranjestad
Administrative divisions:
none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)
Independence:
none (part of the Dutch realm; in 1990, Aruba requested and received
from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically
give independence to the island in 1996)
National holiday:
Flag Day, 18 March
Constitution:
1 January 1986
Legal system:
based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law
influence
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by
Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)
head of government:
Prime Minister Nelson ODUBER (since 6 February 1989)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed with the advice and approval of the
legislature
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Legislature (Staten):
elections last held 8 January 1993 (next to be held by NA January
1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) MEP
9, AVP 8, ADN 1, PPA 1, OLA 1, other 1
Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson ODUBER; Aruban People's Party
(AVP), Henny EMAN; National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro
KELLY; New Patriotic Party (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic
Party (PPA), Benny NISBET; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo
BERLINSKI; Democratic Action '86 (AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Organization
for Aruban Liberty (OLA), Glenbert CROES
note:
governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN
Member of:
ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WTO
(associate)
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)
US diplomatic representation:
none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)
Flag:
blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lower
portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper
hoist-side corner

@Aruba, Economy

Overview:
Tourism is the mainstay of the economy, alth