Politics of the Netherlands Antilles
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Politics of the Netherlands Antilles, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic country, whereby the prime minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The Netherlands Antilles have full autonomy on most matters. Exceptions are defence, foreign affairs, and the Supreme Court.
Executive power rests with a governor, and a prime minister heads an eight-member Cabinet. The governor is appointed for a six-year term by the monarch, and the prime minister and deputy prime minister are elected by the Staten for four-year terms. The legislature or Staten elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms.
The judicial system, which has mainly been derived from the Dutch system, operates independently of the legislature and the executive. Jurisdiction, including appeal, lies with the Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba and the Supreme Court of Justice in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands Antilles is scheduled to be disbanded December 15, 2008.
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[edit] Executive branch
| Office | Name | Party | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen | Beatrix | 30 April 1980 | |
| Governor | Frits Goedgedrag | 1 July 2002 | |
| Prime Minister | Emily de Jongh-Elhage | PAR | 26 March 2006 |
The Governor is appointed by the monarch for a six-year term.
The Council of Ministers is elected by the Staten.
[edit] Legislative branch
Unicameral Estates of the Netherlands Antilles (22 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
[edit] Political parties and elections
Political parties are indigenous to each island.
| Parties | Island | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party for the Restructured Antilles (Partido Antiá Restrukturá) | Curaçao | 18,187 | 20.85 | 5 |
| New Antilles Movement (Movishon Antia Nobo) | Curaçao | 13,123 | 15.05 | 3 |
| Party Workers' Liberation Front 30th of May (Partido Frente Obrero Liberashon 30 Di Mei) | Curaçao | 9,582 | 10.99 | 2 |
| National People's Party (Partido Nashonal di Pueblo) | Curaçao | 7,765 | 8.91 | 2 |
| Forsa Kòrsou | Curaçao | 6,658 | 7.64 | 2 |
| Labour Party People's Crusade (Partido Laboral krusado Popular) | Curaçao | 4,390 | 5.03 | 0 |
| National Alliance | Sint Maarten | 4,301 | 4.93 | 2 |
| Democratic Party Sint Maarten (Democratische Partij Sint Maarten) | Sint Maarten | 4,122 | 4.73 | 1 |
| LPNA | Curaçao | 3,851 | 4.42 | 0 |
| Bonaire Patriotic Union (Union Patriotico Bonairano) | Bonaire | 3,678 | 4.22 | 2 |
| Sovereign People (Pueblo Soberano) | Curaçao | 3,360 | 3.85 | 0 |
PDB-Paboso-ON
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Bonaire | 2,947 | 3.38 | 1 |
| Democratic Party (Democratische Partij) | Curaçao | 2,638 | 3.03 | 0 |
| People's Progressive Alliance | Sint Maarten | 1,712 | 1.96 | 0 |
| Democratic Party Sint Eustatius (Democratische Partij Sint Eustatius) | Sint Eustatius | 0.5 | 1 | |
| Windwards Islands People's Movement | Saba | 0.5 | 1 | |
| Total | 22 | |||
| Source: E-politika | ||||
[edit] Judicial branch
Joint High Court of Justice, judges appointed by the monarch
note:
[edit] Administrative divisions
The Antilles are divided in five insular territories: Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Saba,Sint Eustatius.
[edit] Reform
The Netherlands Antilles are to be disbanded by the end of 2008. Curaçao and Sint-Maarten are to become separate landen within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with a status similar to that of Aruba. Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will become part the "special communities" of the Netherlands-proper.
[edit] International organization participation
Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WToO (associate)
