Government and Politics

Government and Politics of Curacao

Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Curacao.

Government Structure

Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.

Government Type: parliamentary
Administrative Divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Legal System: based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship: See the Netherlands
Executive Branch: chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013), represented by Governor Lucille A. GEORGE-WOUT (since 4 November 2013) head of government: Prime Minister Gilmar PISAS (since 14 June 2021) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the Governor elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority coalition is typically appointed prime minister by the Governor; election last held on 19 March 2021 (next to be held in 2025) note: Curaçao became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 10 October 2010, following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles; current governing coalition is led by the Movementu Futuro Kòrsou (MFK)
Legislative Branch: unicameral States or Staten (22 seats - Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St. Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held in 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, PLKP 2, DP St. M 2, UP Bonaire 2, WIPM 1, DP note: the government of Prime Minister Etienne YS is a coalition of several parties; current government formed after collapse of FOL led government on 4 April 2004
Judicial Branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political Parties: Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR [Etienne YS]; C 93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [Eric LODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA]; National Alliance [William MARLIN]; National People's Party or PNP [Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [Kenneth GIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UP Bonaire [Ramonsito BOOI]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.]; People's Party or PAPU [Richard HODI]; Pro Curacao Party or PPK [Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic Labor Movement [Steve HASSELL]; Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St. Eustatius Alliance or SEA [Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious Alternative People's Party or Sapp [Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS [Benny DEMEI]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Will JOHNSTON]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, Rignald LAK, Editha WRIGHT] note: political parties are indigenous to each island
Head of State: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands
Head of Government: Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE
Cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature)
Elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 27 January 2006 (next to be held by 2010) note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, DP-St. M, UPB, WIPM Saba, DP-St. E
Constitution: 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National Holiday: Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
International Organization Participation: Caricom (observer), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate)
Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Jeffrey CORRION, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
U.S. Diplomatic Representation: chief of mission: Consul General Robert E. SORENSON consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: [599] (9) 4613066 FAX: [599] (9) 4616489

Capital City

Seat of government and political history.

Capital City: Willemstad
Location: 12 06 N, 68 55 W
Time Difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
History: Named after Prince WILLIAM II of Orange (1626-1650), who served as stadtholder (Dutch head of state) from 1647 to 1650, shortly after the the Dutch captured Curacao from the Spanish in 1634

Military

Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.

Military Branches: No regular military forces; the Dutch Government controls foreign and defense policy
Service Age and Obligation: No conscription

National Symbols

Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.

National Flag

Flag Symbolism: white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
Flag History: The colors are based on those of the Netherlands flag. The blue represents the Caribbean and the stars stand for the five constituent parts of the Netherlands Antilles: Caracao and Bonaire off the coast of Venezuela, St. marten, St. Eustatius and Saba in the leeward Islands.
Date of Adoption: 1 January 1986

National Anthem

Anthem History: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

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