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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 party„NA;
seats by party„PAR 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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