On a steamy hot day in Suriname, parliamentarians took less than an hour to elect by acclamation the republic’s first female president following general elections in late May, as a new multi-party government takes power in the Caribbean Community nation.
Medical doctor Jennifer Simons Geerlings, 71, was elected head of state by acclamation. Her six-party coalition, with 34 seats, had enough assembly votes to meet the required two-thirds majority to elect a president. Simons is the Leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP), the largest grouping in the coalition, with 18 of the 51 assembly seats.
The brief sitting also saw former university professor Greg Rusland, 65, elected as Simons’ vice president. Most of the other parliamentarians for the coalition and the main opposition VHP party had already been sworn in recently, so the work to rebuild the country’s economy as it prepares for oil and gas production in 2028 begins in earnest.
The Progressive Reform Party (VHP), mainly supported by the country’s Indo population, will be the only party on the opposition benches. It has 17 seats. The VHP did not move to nominate a candidate, clearing the way for a vote by acclamation rather than head count.
“Everyone in that coalition will have to understand that ultimately it is not your private or party interest that is your highest interest, but that together, under fairly difficult circumstances, we have to bring the country to a point where we can take on further development in the coming period of oil and gas with a reasonable advantage. As long as we work honestly, we will find our way step by step with the necessary critical guidance. And I expect people to realize that. If things don’t go well right away, corrections will have to be made,” she said on local radio.
As day one begins on a hot Sunday, critics say they will intensely monitor the coalition’s progress since signs of tensions have already emerged. This has much to do with Ronnie Brunswijk, the vice president in the last government.
Leader of ABOP, the party supported mainly by the Maroon population, the former jungle commando had demanded the vice presidency because both ABOP and Rusland’s National Party of Suriname (NPS) had won six seats apiece. However, ABOP had tallied a few hundred more votes than the NPS, making it the third most significant party. However, Simons stood her ground, offering him the position of deputy speaker.
Brunswijk has said he will continue to ensure ABOP is rewarded adequately for being in the coalition and for ensuring its six seats led to a two-thirds majority of 34 seats.
