30 May 2025

Suriname’s political landscape has been thrust into high-stakes coalition negotiations following Sunday’s general election, which delivered a near-deadlock between the ruling Progressive Reform Party (VHP) and the opposition National Democratic Party (NDP).

With neither party securing a parliamentary majority, the battle to form a governing coalition has begun, as the country stands on the cusp of a potential oil-fueled economic transformation.

Preliminary results show the NDP secured 18 seats in the 51-member National Assembly, narrowly edging out incumbent President Chandrikapersad Santokhi’s VHP, which captured 17.

Sixteen seats were split among smaller parties, making them pivotal players in the race to form a new government and elect the next president, an outcome that requires a two-thirds parliamentary majority, or 34 votes.

“We are on the right track. There are still a few thousand votes to be counted, and we hope that it will continue in our favour,” said NDP chairwoman Jennifer Geerlings-Simons. “But we are where we are now, and we will continue from there. This is the first step and believe me, we are already working on it,” she added.

President Santokhi, who received the highest number of individual votes with 42,521, acknowledged the need for collaboration. “At some point, you will have to use the result as a basis. That is the official mandate of the people to the political parties. Then you see what it is, how big it is, and on that basis, you work out options for cooperation,” he said, adding that the VHP “is open to any cooperation that is necessary for the progress of the development of the country.”

The NDP’s vice-chairman, Ashwin Adhin, said that the party’s focus was on forming a majority bloc led by Geerlings-Simons, who succeeded the controversial Desi Bouterse as party leader. “I had indicated that the majority of votes determines the candidate. She has the most votes, so a man is a man, a word is a word,” he added, reaffirming his support for her candidacy.

The NDP has signed an agreement with five minority parties including the Alternative 2020 Party (A20), the Brotherhood and Unity in Politics party (BEP), the General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) led by former Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk, the National Party of Suriname (NPS), and the Pertjajah Luhur Party (PL). The latter three were until recently coalition partners of the Santokhi Administration, but have withdrawn their support, citing  exclusion in policy creation.

With vote counting and verification still ongoing, the country waits for confirmed tallies to pave the way for the National Assembly to meet and choose a president. The coalition led by Geerlings-Simons at present holds 34 seats, which would be just enough to secure the two-thirds majority needed to form a government.

If Geerlings-Simon is elected as president, she would be the first female to hold that office in the country’s history. “There has not yet been any discussion about ministerial positions, but about how the governance of the country can be improved. On that basis, we have reached an agreement and decided to sign the letter of intent,” said the presidential hopeful at the agreement signing.

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about the electoral process, particularly regarding polling station 614 in the Brokopondo district. The Independent Electoral Office (OKB) admitted there were “suboptimal” conditions at the station, citing staff inexperience and logistical challenges, but firmly rejected allegations of manipulation or fraud. “We emphasise that there are no indications that there has been deliberate manipulation or fraud,” the OKB said in a statement.

This election carries immense implications for Suriname’s future. The next administration will oversee the early stages of the country’s US$12.2bn GranMorgu offshore oil development in Block 58. Operated by TotalEnergies, the project is expected to begin production in 2028, potentially transforming Suriname’s economic fortunes.

Santokhi’s VHP, aligned with a market-driven agenda, is credited with restoring fiscal discipline through an IMF programme and investment reforms. However, austerity measures have sparked public dissatisfaction. By contrast, Geerlings-Simons and the NDP advocate for increased social spending, equitable oil revenue distribution, and greater scrutiny of foreign corporate contracts.

“This general election is assessed as a critical juncture,” Bloomberg News noted, “not merely a transfer of power, but impacting which developmental path Suriname will choose going forward.”

Political analysts caution that without careful management, Suriname risks falling into a resource trap. “If Suriname becomes excessively dependent on oil revenue, it may fall into a ‘resource curse’ that could hinder long-term growth,” experts warn.

Appearing to hold on to some hope, in a message to supporters, Santokhi urged unity and resilience. “The future offers new opportunities to make a difference. Let us put our shoulders to the wheel and continue to build a stronger and more prosperous Suriname together.”

As the nation waits for the official election results, electoral authorities report that data from around 40 polling stations still needs to be uploaded to the Ministry of the Interior’s dashboard as of Thursday. Additionally, turnout figures from 27 stations have yet to be entered, which is estimated to represent roughly 20,000 votes.

At a press briefing, Chair of the IT Elections Committee, Previen Ramadhin cautioned that the results remain subject to change, with recounts requested at several polling stations across different districts.

Source: Caribbean Insight – 30 May 2025 Volume 47, Issue 11