1985 Aruban general election

General elections were held in Aruba on 22 November 1985 to elect the Island Council.^[1][2] They were held shortly before Aruba was split from the Netherlands Antilles and obtained the status of a 'land' (country) within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.^[3] The Island Council was converted into the first Estates of Aruba on 1 January 1986.

1985 Aruban general election

← 1983 22 November 1985 1989 →
All 21 seats in Parliament 11 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   PPA Leader Betico Croes Henny Eman Party PEM AVP PPA Seats before 13 5 3 Seats won 8 7 2 Seat change 5 2 1 Popular vote 13,786 11,480 4,499 Percentage 37.62% 31.33% 12.28% Swing 20.32pp 8.76pp 2.63pp   Fourth party Fifth party   PDA ADN Party PDA ADN Seats before 0 — Seats won 2 2 Seat change 2 New Popular vote 3,661 3,216 Percentage 9.99% 8.78% Swing 5.41pp New
Elected Prime Minister Henny Eman AVP

Although the People's Electoral Movement  won the most seats, the Aruban People's Party formed a coalition government with the Aruban Patriotic Party, Aruban Democratic Party and National Democratic Alliance, with Henny Eman becoming the first Prime Minister of Aruba.^[2]

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	People's Electoral Movement	13,786	37.62	8	–5
	Aruban People's Party	11,480	31.33	7	+2
	Aruban Patriotic Party	4,499	12.28	2	–1
	Aruban Democratic Party	3,661	9.99	2	New
	National Democratic Alliance	3,216	8.78	2	New
Total		36,642	100.00	21	0
Source: Aruba Blue Pages