6 months Ago
Same Same, But Different: Coalition "Preliminary Round" Amid Divergent Results
Suriname's parliament requires a two-thirds majority (34 seats) to select a president and vice president. Without it, the decision will go to the United People's Assembly, a larger body made up of national and regional officials, where a simple majority is needed.
"NDP leader Jenny Simons has made clear that her party will not operate with the VHP, a position that was re-emphasized by Vice Chair Sergio Akiemboto," it said. This requires both sides to make overtures to smaller parties in order to form a governing coalition. The ABOP party led by Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk and National Party Suriname, by Gregory Rusland, have six seats each. The other four seats are are shared among three smaller parties, which complicates the task of forming a coalition.
Delays, Digital Mishaps and Remainder of the Votes
The picture may still shift somewhat. The results from 43 out of 673 polling stations are yet to be announced because of technical problems. This was the first election in which digital processing of the vote was tried, but connectivity issues and missing tablets have delayed full reporting.
Santokhi Is Under Review
Elected in 2020, President Santokhi inherited a weakened economy from the prior administration. He launched IMF-guided reforms, slashed subsidies and brought down annual inflation from over 60 percent to single digits. But he has been criticized for not doing enough to help low-income and vulnerable people.
