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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba
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Dependency status:
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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
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Government type:
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parliamentary democracy
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Capital:
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Oranjestad
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Administrative divisions:
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none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
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Independence:
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none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
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National holiday:
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Flag Day, 18 March
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Constitution:
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1 January 1986
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Legal system:
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based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)
election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA%
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)
head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Fredis REFUNJOL
cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)
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Legislative branch:
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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
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Judicial branch:
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Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch)
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Political parties and leaders:
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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]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba
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Flag description:
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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
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