Surinamese legislative election, 2010
Encyclopedia
A legislative election was held in Suriname
on 25 May 2010.
Nine parties contested the election. Pre-election polls suggested a share of 41% of the vote going to the "Mega Combination" coalition, that includes the National Democratic Party
of former dictator Dési Bouterse
. The ruling Nieuw Front (NF) had around 22.5% support. There were 324,490 people registered to vote in the election which would determine the holders of 51 parliament seats, 116 regional positions and 752 municipal positions.
Preliminary results issued on 26 May 2010 showed the Mega Combination winning a plurality of 23 seats of 51, up from 15 in the last election. The New Front for Democracy and Development
alliance of incumbent President Ronald Venetiaan
(who had stated before the election that he would not seek another term) was said to have won 14 seats. Venetiaan ruled out working together with the NDP as long as it was led by Bouterse. In the upcoming indirect presidential election
in July 2010, a two-thirds majority will be required to elect the next president. Organisation of American States election observers reported a peaceful election with no irregulaties.
Bouterse has not stated if he will seek to return to the presidency. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen
has said that the Dutch government will respect the will of the voters of Suriname, despite Bouterse having been sentenced to 11 years in prison by a Dutch court for drug dealing. An Interpol
arrest warrant has been issued for him, but Suriname does not extradite its citizens.
The NDP successfully concluded a coalition deal with Bouterse's former opponents in the civil war, the A Combinatie, giving him a majority in parliament, but not the two-thirds majority required to elect the president. Negotiations with the People's Alliance to attain the necessary supermajority reportedly failed after the People's Alliance raised excessive demands.
The NDP fell out with the A Combinatie over the number of cabinet posts, however, and subsequently, the New Front (led by the National Party of Suriname
) formed a coalition deal with the A Combinatie and the People's Alliance, giving them 27 seats in parliament, enough to form the government, but too few to elect the president. It was seen as a possibility that Bouterse might be elected in the final round of the presidential election (when it goes to the People's Assembly, where the NDP has a majority.
In a surprise development, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons from the NDP was elected Chairwoman of the House on 30 June 2010 with 26 to 24 votes, even though the anti-NDP parties had a majority in parliament. The NPS
's Ruth Wijdenbosch was elected Vice Chairwoman with 25 to 24 votes.
In the run-up to the presidential election on 19 July 2010, Bouterse convinced the A Combinatie to join forces with him, giving him a 30-seat majority; immediately before the election, he succeeded in getting the People's Alliance to join him, giving him the votes required to become president.
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
on 25 May 2010.
Nine parties contested the election. Pre-election polls suggested a share of 41% of the vote going to the "Mega Combination" coalition, that includes the National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (Suriname)
The National Democratic Party is a political party in Suriname. It was founded in 1987 shortly before the downfall of military dictator Dési Bouterse....
of former dictator Dési Bouterse
Dési Bouterse
Desiré Delano "Dési" Bouterse is the 9th and current President of Suriname.As an army officer, he was the de facto leader of Suriname through most of the 1980s, serving as Chairman of the National Military Council...
. The ruling Nieuw Front (NF) had around 22.5% support. There were 324,490 people registered to vote in the election which would determine the holders of 51 parliament seats, 116 regional positions and 752 municipal positions.
Preliminary results issued on 26 May 2010 showed the Mega Combination winning a plurality of 23 seats of 51, up from 15 in the last election. The New Front for Democracy and Development
New Front for Democracy and Development
The New Front for Democracy and Development is a Social democratic political alliance in Suriname....
alliance of incumbent President Ronald Venetiaan
Ronald Venetiaan
Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan served as the 6th and 8th President of Suriname. His first term as president ran from 1991 to 1996 after which he lost in the elections to Jules Wijdenbosch...
(who had stated before the election that he would not seek another term) was said to have won 14 seats. Venetiaan ruled out working together with the NDP as long as it was led by Bouterse. In the upcoming indirect presidential election
Surinamese presidential election, 2010
An indirect presidential election was held in Suriname on 19 July 2010 following the legislative election. If the National Assembly of Suriname twice fails to elect a new president with a two-thirds majority, the election will go to the People's Assembly of Suriname, composed of members of...
in July 2010, a two-thirds majority will be required to elect the next president. Organisation of American States election observers reported a peaceful election with no irregulaties.
Bouterse has not stated if he will seek to return to the presidency. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen
Maxime Verhagen
Maxime Jacques Marcel Verhagen is a Dutch politician in the Christian Democratic Appeal party. He is the Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation and Deputy Prime Minister since October 14, 2010 in the Cabinet Rutte.He previously served as a Member of the European Parliament for...
has said that the Dutch government will respect the will of the voters of Suriname, despite Bouterse having been sentenced to 11 years in prison by a Dutch court for drug dealing. An Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
arrest warrant has been issued for him, but Suriname does not extradite its citizens.
The NDP successfully concluded a coalition deal with Bouterse's former opponents in the civil war, the A Combinatie, giving him a majority in parliament, but not the two-thirds majority required to elect the president. Negotiations with the People's Alliance to attain the necessary supermajority reportedly failed after the People's Alliance raised excessive demands.
The NDP fell out with the A Combinatie over the number of cabinet posts, however, and subsequently, the New Front (led by the National Party of Suriname
National Party of Suriname
The National Party of Suriname is a political party in Suriname, founded in 1946, and currently led by Ronald Venetiaan....
) formed a coalition deal with the A Combinatie and the People's Alliance, giving them 27 seats in parliament, enough to form the government, but too few to elect the president. It was seen as a possibility that Bouterse might be elected in the final round of the presidential election (when it goes to the People's Assembly, where the NDP has a majority.
In a surprise development, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons from the NDP was elected Chairwoman of the House on 30 June 2010 with 26 to 24 votes, even though the anti-NDP parties had a majority in parliament. The NPS
National Party of Suriname
The National Party of Suriname is a political party in Suriname, founded in 1946, and currently led by Ronald Venetiaan....
's Ruth Wijdenbosch was elected Vice Chairwoman with 25 to 24 votes.
In the run-up to the presidential election on 19 July 2010, Bouterse convinced the A Combinatie to join forces with him, giving him a 30-seat majority; immediately before the election, he succeeded in getting the People's Alliance to join him, giving him the votes required to become president.