Six parties in Suriname sign coalition agreement and announce distribution of ministries

Six Surinamese parties-NDP, NPS, ABOP, PL, BEP and A-20-signed a coalition agreement on Sunday evening that will form the basis for a government under NDP leader and intended President Jennifer Simons (71). Although the result of the elections of 25 May is still unofficial, all votes have now been counted and it is expected that the official ratification of the result by the Central Main Stembureau, later this week.

The six political parties have a large majority to form a government, and together they also have the required 34 seats of the 51 seats to be able to choose the president in the National Assembly. The Coalition Agreement that was signed on Sunday evening Local Time indicates how the various tasks and ministries are divided.

In addition to Jennifer Simons as president, the vice presidency will be filled in by the Gregory Russia, leader of the NPS. The new intended parliamentary chairman is Ashwin Adhin of the NDP, and Ronny Brunswijk – now Vice President in the current government of President Santokhi – will take on the vice -presidency of the National Assembly.

Optimism among parties involved

Of the seventeen ministries, seven go to the NDP, including the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Three ministries go to the NPS, including a new and specially founded Ministry for Oil, Gas and the Environment. The party of Ronny Brunswijk will manage three ministries, including the judiciary and police. The other ministries go to the smaller parties PL and A-20.

After signing, Jennifer Simons, the intended first female president of Suriname, promised that she would put all the strength, mind and love into the service of the Surinamese population. It will be a challenge for Simons to go with the group of six parties, all the more so because a number of parties previously worked together in a government and broke up with a popping fight.

Nevertheless, the parties now promised to get started with a new start and a dose of optimism. Suriname is at a crossroads, in 2028 the first billion -dollar income is expected from the large oil reserves found off the coast. Just as in the previously signed declaration of intent, it was again stated that the new government wants to rule without corruption, with transparency and good governance.

It is not remarkable that a coalition agreement has already been signed before there is an official result. Also in the 2020 elections, the VHP, which at the time came out as the largest party, concluded an agreement with other parties a few days after the elections for forming a government. Last Friday Santokhi told journalists that there is no winner, and that he is waiting for the official result.

According to the law, the new parliament must be installed by 30 June by 30 June. Then the election of the chairman and vice -president of the parliament will first take place. The president and vice president of the country must be elected in parliament by 16 July.

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