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Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands)
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Capital: Oranjestad
Constitution:
1 January 1986
Country name: 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
Diplomatic representation from the
US:
the US does not have an embassy in
Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba
Diplomatic representation in the
US:
none (represented by the Kingdom
of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Henry Baarh, Minister Plenipotentiary for
Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of
the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General
Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister
Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected
by the Staten)
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)
election results: Nelson O. ODUBER
elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
Government type: parliamentary
democracy
Independence: none
(part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
International organization participation:
ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate),
UPU, WCL, WToO (associate)
Judicial branch:
Common Court of Justice of Aruba
(judges are appointed by the monarch)
Legal system: based
on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislature or Staten
(21 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 September
2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)
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
National holiday: Flag
Day, 18 March
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 [Jan (Henny) H. EMAN]; 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 [Urbana LOPEZ]; National
Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY]
Flag description:
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
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