other JULIANA in 1909
and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980),
30 April

Constitution: 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands,
as amended

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 of the Netherlands (since
30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA
October 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 8
November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Susanne CAMELIA-ROMER (since NA)
cabinet: - PDB, DP-St. M, FOL, PLKP, PNP elections: the monarch is
hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year
term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party
is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 18
January 2002 (next to be held by NA 2006) note: Miguel POURIER became
prime minister following the resignation of Susanne CAMELIA-ROMER

Legislative branch: unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) note: the government
of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties;
current seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, FOL 2, MAN 2, UPB 2, DP-St. M
2, PDB 1, SEA 1, WIPM 1, other 4 elections: last held 18 January 2002
(next to be held NA 2006) election results: percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - FOL 5, PAR 4, PNP 3, PLKP 2, DP-St.M 2, UPB 2,
DP 1, MAN 1, PDB 1, WIPM 1

Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by
the monarch)

Political parties and leaders: Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR
[Miguel POURIER]; C 93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB
[Jopi ABRAHAM]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ];
Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY];
Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS];
Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [Eric LODEWIJKS];
Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA]; National People's
Party or PNP [Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; New Antilles Movement or MAN
[Kenneth GIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramon BOOI];
Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.]; People's
Party or PAPU [Richard Hodi]; Pro Curacao Party or PPK [Winston LOURENS];
Saba Democratic Labor Movement [Steve HASSELL]; Saba Uni