| Country Name Info : |
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 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 [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] |
| International Organization Participation : |
Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate) |
| Diplomatic Representation In The US : |
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) |
| Diplomatic Representation From The US : |
the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles, Deborah A. BOLTON, is accredited to Aruba |
