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 last national election was held on March 19th 2021. The next general election is due in 2025

Government

A coalition of the Movementu Futuro Kòrsou (MFK) and the Partido Nashonal di Pueblo (PNP) took office in June. The coalition controls 13 out of the 21 seats in the Staten

Main political organisations

MFK, nine seats; Partido Alternativa Real (PAR), four seats; PNP, four seats; Partido MAN (MAN), two seats; Kòrsou Esun Mihó, one seat; Trabou pa Kòrsou, one seat

Key ministers

Governor: Lucille George-Wout

Prime minister: Gilmar Pisas (MFK)

Administration, planning & services: Ornelio Martina (PNP)

Economic development: Ruisandro Cijntje (PNP)

Education, science, culture & sport: Sithree van Heydoorn (MFK)

Finance: Javier Silvania (MFK)

Foreign relations: Carlson Manuel (MFK)

Health, environment & nature: Dorothy Pietersz-Janga (MFK)

Justice: Shalten Hato (MFK)

Social development, labour & welfare: Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia (PNP)

Traffic, transport & urban planning: Charles Cooper (MFK)

Central bank president

Richard Doornbosch