Politics of the Netherlands Antilles
Encyclopedia
The politics of the Netherlands Antilles, a former constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
, existed in a framework of a parliamentary
representative democratic
country
, in which the prime minister was the head of government
, and of a multi-party system
. Executive power
was exercised by the government. Federal legislative power was vested in both the government
and parliament. The Judiciary
was independent of the executive and the legislature. The Netherlands Antilles
had full autonomy on most matters. Exceptions were defence, foreign affairs, and the Supreme Court.
Executive power rested with a governor, and a prime minister headed an eight-member Cabinet. The governor was appointed for a six-year term by the monarch, and the prime minister and deputy prime minister were 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 had mainly been derived from the Dutch system, operated independently of the legislature and the executive. Jurisdiction, including appeal, lied with the Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba and the Supreme Court of Justice in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands Antilles were disbanded on 10 October 2010.
The Governor was appointed by the monarch for a six-year term.
The Council of Ministers was elected by the Staten.
(22 seats; members were elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Saba, Sint Eustatius. On 10 October 2010 the Netherlands Antilles were disbanded.
, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WToO (associate)
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
, existed in a framework of a parliamentary
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
representative democratic
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
country
Country
A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...
, in which the prime minister was the head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
, and of a multi-party system
Multi-party system
A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition, e.g.The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in the United Kingdom formed in 2010. The effective number of parties in a multi-party system is normally...
. Executive power
Executive Power
Executive Power is Vince Flynn's fifth novel, and the fourth to feature Mitch Rapp, an American agent that works for the CIA as an operative for a covert counter terrorism unit called the "Orion Team."-Plot summary:...
was exercised by the government. Federal legislative power was vested in both the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
and parliament. The Judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
was independent of the executive and the legislature. The Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands Antilles
The Netherlands Antilles , also referred to informally as the Dutch Antilles, was an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of two groups of islands in the Lesser Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao , in Leeward Antilles just off the Venezuelan coast; and Sint...
had full autonomy on most matters. Exceptions were defence, foreign affairs, and the Supreme Court.
Executive power rested with a governor, and a prime minister headed an eight-member Cabinet. The governor was appointed for a six-year term by the monarch, and the prime minister and deputy prime minister were 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 had mainly been derived from the Dutch system, operated independently of the legislature and the executive. Jurisdiction, including appeal, lied with the Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba and the Supreme Court of Justice in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands Antilles were disbanded on 10 October 2010.
Executive branch
| Office | Name | Party | Since | Until |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monarch | Beatrix Beatrix of the Netherlands Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University... |
30 April 1980 | 10 October 2010 | |
| Governor | Frits Goedgedrag Frits Goedgedrag Frits M. de los Santos Goedgedrag is the current and first Governor of Curaçao. From 1 July 2002 to 9 October 2010, Goedgedrag was the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles. From 1992 to 1998, he was Administrator of Bonaire.... |
1 July 2002 | 10 October 2010 | |
| Prime Minister | Emily de Jongh-Elhage Emily de Jongh-Elhage Emily Saïdy de Jongh-Elhage was the last Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles from 26 March 2006 until their dissolution on 10 October 2010.She is also leader of the Party for the Restructured Antilles.-Personal background:... |
PAR Party for the Restructured Antilles The Party for the Restructured Antilles is a political party in Curaçao, the Netherlands Antilles. The party was formed in the aftermath of constitutional referendums held on the islands in the Netherlands Antilles in 1993, when a majority had voted against the dissolution of the Netherlands... |
26 March 2006 | 10 October 2010 |
The Governor was appointed by the monarch for a six-year term.
The Council of Ministers was elected by the Staten.
Legislative branch
Unicameral Estates of the Netherlands AntillesEstates of the Netherlands Antilles
The Estates of the Netherlands Antilles were the parliament of the Netherlands Antilles. They had 22 members, elected for a four year term in three multi-seat constuencies and 2 single-seat constuencies. On 10 October 2010 the Netherlands Antilles were dissolved, and so were their Estates.-2010...
(22 seats; members were elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Political parties and elections
Political parties were indigenous to each island.Administrative divisions
The Antilles were divided into five insular territories: CuraçaoCuraçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Saba, Sint Eustatius. On 10 October 2010 the Netherlands Antilles were disbanded.
International organization participation
Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), InterpolInterpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WToO (associate)