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Politics Of The Netherlands AntillesCountry 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 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 8 November 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
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 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)
election results: Miguel POURIER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
note: government coalition - PDB, DP-St. M, FOL, PLKP, PNP 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, PLKP 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, judges appointed by the monarch Political parties and leaders: Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR POURIER; C 93 BROWN; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB ABRAHAM; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP JONCKHEER; Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E WOODLEY; Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M WESTCOTT-WILLIAMS; Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME LODEWIJKS; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP COVA; National People's Party or PNP ROMER; New Antilles Movement or MAN Felip Don MARTINA; Nos Patria BEHILIA; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA MARLIN; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB ELLIS; People's Party or PAPU HODI; Pro Curacao Party or PPK LOURENS; Saba Democratic Labor Movement HASSELL; Saba Unity Party SIMMONDS; St. Eustatius Alliance or SEA WHITFIELD; Serious Alternative People's Party or SAPP ROLLOCKS; Social Action Cause or KAS DEMEI; Socialist Independent or SI HUECK; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM HASSELL; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL GODETT, Jr.
note: political parties are indigenous to each island International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WToO (associate) Flag description: see Flag of the Netherlands Antilles - See also : Netherlands Antilles
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