Form of government

Parliamentary democracy with control over internal affairs, including aviation, customs, communications and immigration; the Netherlands is responsible for external affairs, such as citizenship, defence and foreign policy

The executive

The Council of Ministers is responsible to the Staten (parliament)

Head of state

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, represented by a governor; responsibility in the Netherlands lies with the Home Office

National legislature

The Staten has 21 members, elected by adult suffrage every four years under a system of proportional representation

Legal system

Courts of first instance on the island, appealing to a High Court of Justice operated jointly between Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the "BES islands" (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba); in civil and criminal matters, the Dutch Supreme Court in the Netherlands will remain the highest legal authority

Elections

The next national election is scheduled for April 2021

Government

A coalition of the Partido Antiá Restrukturá (PAR), Partido MAN (MAN) and Partido Inovashon Nashonal (PIN) controls 10 of the 21 seats in the Staten

Main political organisations

PAR, six seats; MAN, five seats; Movementu Futuro Kòrsou (MFK), five seats; Kòrsou di Nos Tur (KdNT), two seats; PIN, one seat; Pueblo Soberano (PS), one seat; Movementu Progresivo (MP), one seat

Key ministers

Governor: Lucille George-Wout

Prime minister & foreign relations: Eugene Rhuggenaath (PAR)

Administration, planning & services: Armin Konket (MAN)

Economic development : Ivan (Steven) Martina (MAN)

Education, science, culture & sport: Eugene Rhuggenaath [interim]

Finance: Kenneth Gijsbertha (MAN)

Health, environment & nature: Suzy Camelia-Römer (PIN)

Justice: Quincy Girigorie (PAR)

Social development, labour & welfare: Hensley Koeiman (MAN)

Traffic, transport & urban planning: Zita Jesus-Leito (PAR)

Central bank president

Richard Doornbosch