Declaration of intent for coalition Suriname, party Santokhi excluded

In a packed room in the Marriott Hotel in Paramaribo, on Tuesday evening local time, six political parties, including the NDP, led by presidential candidate Jennifer Simons, signed a declaration of intent to form a new government. Although the official election results are still not there, and in the meantime more than ninety percent of the votes have been counted, the NDP took this leap forward in the hope of assuring itself.

According to the provisional result, the NDP has become the largest party with 18 seats, closely followed by the VHP of the current President Chan Santokhi with 17 seats. The chairmen of the political parties NPD, NPS, ABOP, PL, BEP and A-20 have now agreed that they want to work together and have unanimously put themselves behind Simons as a future president, who can thus become the first female president of Suriname.

Isolated

The fact that the NDP succeeded in binding almost all parties that have won seats indicates how little capacity President Santokhi still has within the political field and how isolated he is in fact. Due to the declaration of intent that has now been signed, the NDP can assure itself of the power of government and the presidency, because to be able to form a government, 26 seats are needed, and to choose the president in parliament, a two -thirds majority of the 51 seats is needed, or 34 seats.

Included, this coalition is exactly on the required number of seats to be able to choose the president in parliament. That the current vice president Ronny Brunswijk and his Abop also joined the group at the last minute is all the more striking: Brunswijk is still in a government with President Santokhi that he now turns up. Moreover, within this new partnership there are a number of leaders who have little on with Brunswijk, which is held responsible for large corruption scandals within the current Santokhi-Brunswijk government.

Negotiations

According to Jennifer Simons, in this first phase, with the signing of the declaration of intent, nothing has yet been agreed with the various parties how and what their interpretation will be within the government to be formed. Whether the declaration of intent actually lasts must prove in the coming period; A number of phase still have to be completed before there is actually a new government. From now on, negotiations will start about the role of the various parties within the government. It would not be the first time that an agreed coalition on paper is broken.

It is also striking that the National Party Suriname (NPS) also participates in this coalition. The NPS, which dragged in six seats, did not want to collaborate with the NDP before. In addition, that Desi Bouterse, the founder of the NDP, who died in December, was an obstacle for the NDP.

« There is now room within our party to work with the NDP, » said chairman of the NPS Gregory Russia. He was previously also in the government of current President Santokhi, but left that coalition in 2023 in 2023.

Festive

The atmosphere was festive on Tuesday evening. Champagne was served and in the room and beyond was full of supporters of all parties. « We see a group of men at the table, and a woman in the middle, it is now time in Suriname for a female president, » said Ricardo Panka, party chairman of the NDP when he announced the collaboration.

The parties indicated that they signed the declaration of intent quickly to form a coalition to tackle the problems in Suriname. The country is at a crossroads because of the large oil reserves.

« We have a rich country, we now have to work together to let the population enjoy the wealth of this country in Suriname. We want honest governance, transparency and a good economic policy, » said Jennifer Simons.

As the cards are now, the VHP of Santokhi Schaakmat seems to be set, and the party would be the only party in the opposition in the new parliament. On Tuesday evening there was no response from President Santokhi and the VHP.

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