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Country name:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
local long form: none
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen
Data code:
NT
Dependency status:
part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full
autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954
Government type:
parliamentary
National capital:
Willemstad
Administrative
divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands)
note: each island has its own government
Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday:
Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)
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 Wilhelmina Armgard 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
25 February 1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
elections: the queen is a constitutional monarch; governor
general appointed by the queen 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 30
January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)
election results: Miguel POURIER elected prime minister;
percent of legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held
by NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by partyžNA; seats
by partyžPAR 4, PNP 3, SPA 1, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, PKLP 3, WIPM
1, SEA 1, DP-St.M 2, FOL 2; no party won enough seats to form
a government
note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER
is a coalition of several parties
Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice, are appointed by
the Netherlands monarch
Political parties
and leaders:
Bonaire: Democratic
Party of Bonaire (PDB), Jopi ABRAHAM; Patriotic Union of Bonaire
(UPB), Rudy ELLIS
Curacao: Antillean Restructuring Party (PAR), Miguel
POURIER; National People's Party (PNP), Suzy ROMER; New Antilles
Movement (MAN), Domenico Felip Don MARTINA; Workers' Liberation
Front (FOL), Wilson GODETT, Jr.; Socialist Independent (SI),
George HUECK; Democratic Party of Curacao (DP), Frank MAYNARD;
Nos Patria, Chin BEHILIA; Social Action Cause (KAS), Benny DEMEI;
Labor Party People's Crusade (PLKP), Errol COVA; Foundation
Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics (FAME), Eric LODEWIJKS;
Pro Curacao Party (PPK), Winston LOURENS; C 93, Stanley BROWN;
People's Party (PAPU), Richard HODI
Saba: Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM Saba),
Ray HASSELL; Saba Democratic Labor Movement, Steve HASSELL;
Saba Unity Party, Carmen SIMMONDS
Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius (DP-St.
E), Julian WOODLEY; Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM);
St. Eustatius Alliance (SEA), Ingrid WHITFIELD
Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten (DP-St.
M), Sarah WESTCOTT-WILLIAMS; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten
(SPA), William MARLIN; Serious Alternative People's Party (SAPP)
Julian ROLLOCKS
note: political parties are indigenous to each island
International
organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate),
Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WToO (associate)
©
CIA 1999
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