nment Aruba

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba

Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy
in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands
Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Oranjestad

Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

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 of the Netherlands
(since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN
(since 1 January 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER
(since 30 October 2001); deputy prime minister NA cabinet: Council of
Ministers (elected by the Staten) election results: Nelson O. ODUBER
elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA% elections:
the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for a six-year
term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected
by the Staten for four-year terms; election last held 28 September 2001
(next to be held by December 2005)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members
elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) election
results: percent of vote by party - MEP 52.4%, AVP 26.7%, PPA 9.6%,
OLA 5.7%, Aliansa 3.5%, other 2.1%; seats by party - MEP 12, AVP 6,
PPA 2, OLA 1 elections: Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice
(judges are appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders: Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS
[leader NA]; Aruban Democratic Alliance or Aliansa [leader NA]; Aruban
Democratic Party or PDA [Leo BERLINSKI]; Aruban Liberal Party or OLA
[Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban
People's Party or AVP [Tico CROES]; Concentration for the Liberation
of Aruba or CLA [leader NA]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP
[Nelson O. ODUBER]; For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA [leader NA];
National Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC
(associate), Interpol, IOC, UNE