Jennifer Simons (71) will be the new president of Suriname. There are no opposing candidates nominated for the position. The intended vice president, Gregory Rusland, is also the only candidate for that position.
Parliamentarians had until 5:00 PM (Dutch time) to nominate candidates. Simons and Rusland were nominated by 34 of the 51 parliamentarians. The inauguration is scheduled for July 16.
Shortly after the elections, Simons already signed a declaration of intent with five other parties. Together, the six parties account for 34 seats, precisely the two-thirds majority needed to elect a president.
The National Democratic Party (NDP) of Simons won eighteen seats in the elections. The NDP participated for the first time without founder Desi Bouterse. Simons succeeded him last year after Bouterse went into hiding following his conviction for the December murders.
The Progressive Reform Party (VHP) of president Chan Santokhi had no chance with seventeen seats. VHP decided “after in-depth deliberations and with full awareness of its responsibilities” not to nominate candidates for the two positions, according to a statement.
Ronnie Brunswijk, vice president under Santokhi, and his General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) are definitively opting to join the Simons government. He confirmed this after a party meeting.
Brunswijk thus accepts that his party will not occupy key positions and will serve as vice-chairman of parliament in the coming term. He said that he had watered down his demands so much that there was almost no wine left.