Central America and the Caribbean > Aruba > Government

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Administrative divisions none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Capital city	Oranjestad
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	12 31 N, 70 02 W
Capital city > Name	Oranjestad
Capital city > Time difference UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution	1 January 1986
countries' copyright length > Usual term of copyright protection	unknown
Dependency status member country 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 > Cabinet Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
Executive branch > Chief of state Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004)
Executive branch > Election results Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
Executive branch > 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 in 2005 (next to be held by 2009)
Executive branch > Head of government Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001)
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
Flag modification	18		[93rd of 197]
Government type	parliamentary democracy
Independence none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
International organization participation Caricom (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU, WMO
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)
Legislative branch > Election results percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA 7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8, MPA 1, RED 1
Legislative branch > Elections last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
National holiday	Flag Day, 18 March
political parties > Multi party	•
Political parties and leaders Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; Aruban Liberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Movement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platform or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]
Political pressure groups and leaders > Other	environmental groups
Prime minister	Nelson O. Oduber
Status dependent democracy
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Trademarks, nonresidents	491		[56th of 99]
Trademarks, nonresidents (per capita)	4.96 per 1 million people		[4th of 146]
Trademarks, residents	89		[63rd of 98]
Trademarks, residents (per capita)	898.99 per 1 million people		[15th of 142]
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International	none

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