Suriname Parliament Elects Country's First Female President
The Facts
- Suriname's National Assembly elected opposition leader and former parliament speaker Jennifer Geerlings-Simons by acclamation on Sunday as the first woman president of the South American Dutch-speaking country. She will be inaugurated next week on Wednesday.
- Six parties signed a memorandum of understanding in late May to come together and form a coalition government, positioning Geerlings-Simons as the likely next head of state and government just days after a general election that month. Her rivals decided not to name anyone to run against her.
- Geerlings-Simons was appointed as the presidential candidate of the NDP in a reported unanimous decision after the vote. She has pushed for future oil revenues to fund social programs and local content rules, and for a more cautious posture toward foreign investors and multinational firms.
Sources Split
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The Spin
Narrative A
It's no surprise that all parties have decided to team up against Santokhi, as his popularity sunk in the run-up to the elections — this is good news for Suriname because after his disastrous stint as president, including with regard to the environment and ancestral rights. In comparison, the election of Geerlings-Simons is a step forward for the country.
Narrative B
Political negotiations ousted Santokhi from office, but the fact that he was the most popular lawmaker in the latest Suriname election is a testament to his achievements while in office. Under his administration, the country reduced its debt-to-GDP ratio by almost half and increased international reserves from zero to $1.4 billion, stabilizing the economy and laying ground for sustainable growth.
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