Short facts about the government of Svalbard

Country name:

conventional long form:  none conventional short form:  Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)

Dependency status:

territory of Norway; administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Longyearbyen

Independence:

none (territory of Norway)

National holiday:

NA

Legal system:

NA

Executive branch:

chief of state:  King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991) head of government:  Governor Morten RUUD (since NA November 1998) and Assistant Governor Odd Redar HUMLEGAARD (since NA) elections:  none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice

International organization participation:

none

Flag description:

the flag of Norway is used

Source: World Factbook