<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Aruba<nl>Government</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> none
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Aruba
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<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> AA
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles
<item><hi format=bold>Capital:</hi> Oranjestad
<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> none (part of the Dutch realm; in 1990, Aruba requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Flag Day, 18 March
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 1 January 1986
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Nelson ODUBER (since 6 February 1989)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers; appointed with the advice and approval of the legislature
<item><hi format=bold>Legislature (Staten):</hi> elections last held 8 January 1993 (next to be held by NA January 1997); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(21 total) MEP 9, AVP 8, ADN 1, PPA 1, OLA 1, other 1
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Joint High Court of Justice
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson ODUBER; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Henny EMAN; National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro KELLY; New Patriotic Party (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny NISBET; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo BERLINSKI; Democratic Action '86 (AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Organization for Aruban Liberty (OLA), Glenbert CROES
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<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN
<item><hi format=bold>Diplomatic representation in US:</hi> none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)
<item><hi format=bold>US diplomatic representation:</hi> none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> 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