Curaçao - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Curaçao, it was the most plausible name derivation is that the island was designated Isla de la Curacion (Spanish meaning "Island of the Cure" or "Island of Healing") or Ilha da Curacao (Portuguese meaning the same) to reflect the locale's function as a recovery stop for sick crewmen. The Government system in this country is the
parliamentary democracy
type and the different Administrative divisions includes:none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National symbols
Laraha (citrus tree); national colors: blue, yellow, white.
The flag
The National flag of Curaçao has on a blue field a horizontal yellow band somewhat below the center divides the flag into proportions of 5:1:2; two five-pointed white stars - the smaller above and to the left of the larger - appear in the canton; the blue of the upper and lower sections symbolizes the sky and sea respectively; yellow represents the sun; the stars symbolize Curacao and its uninhabited smaller sister island of Klein Curacao; the five star points signify the five continents from which Curacao's people derive.
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The National Anthem
| Title | "Himmo di Korsou" (Anthem of Curacao) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Guillermo ROSARIO, Mae HENRIQUEZ, Enrique MULLER, Betty DORAN/Frater Candidus NOWENS, Errol "El Toro" COLINA |
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note: adapted 1978; the lyrics, originally written in 1899, were rewritten in 1978 to make them less colonial in nature
More about the government of Curaçao
| Date of Independence | none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday |
| Legal system | based on Dutch civil law |
| International law organization participation | |
| Constitution | |
| History | Previous 1947, 1955; latest adopted 5 September 2010, entered into force 10 October 2010 (regulates governance of Curacao but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - in October 2010, with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, Curacao became a semi-autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands |
| Citizenship | |
| 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 sworn-in by the governor |
| Elections/appointments | the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually elected prime minister by the Parliament of Curacao; election last held on 19 March 2021 (next to be held in 2025) |
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature name | Parliament of Curacao |
| Legislative structure | Unicameral |
| Number of seats | 21 (directly elected) |
| Electoral system | Proportional representation |
| Scope of elections | Full renewal |
| Term in office | 4 years |
| Most recent election date | 3/19/2021 |
| Parties elected and seats per party | MFK (9); PAR (4); PNP (4); MAN (2); KEM (1); TPK (1) |
| Percentage of women in chamber | 28.6% |
| Expected date of next election | 2025 |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (sits as a 3-judge panel); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court, in The Hague, Netherlands |
| Judge selection and term of office | Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch for life |
| Subordinate courts | First instance courts, appeals court; specialized courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Consul General Margy BOND (since 20 January 2022); note - also accredited to Aruba and Sint Maarten |
| Embassy | P.O. Box 158, J.B. Gorsiraweg 1 |
| Mailing address | 3160 Curacao Place, Washington DC 20521-3160 |
| Telephone | [599] (9) 461-3066 |
| FAX | [599] (9) 461-6489 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://cw.usconsulate.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the Netherlands entry |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Historic Willemstad |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Curaçao
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International organization participation
ACS (associate)
All Important Facts about Curaçao
Want to know more about Curaçao? Check all different factbooks for Curaçao below.
