Paramaribo, Suriname
Reuters
–
Suriname’s Congress supported Jennifer Simons as the South American country’s first female president on Sunday, setting doctors and former Congress president on the course, steering the nation at the cusp of the predicted oil boom.
Suriname lawmakers supported Simons as president six weeks after the ruling party and its top opposition were almost tied to legislative seats competition, leading to a coalition contract to set up Simmons as president.
Simons’ opposition National Democrats won 18 seats, while current President Chang Sand-hee’s progressive reform party won 17 seats in the May 25th parliamentary election. The small party won the remaining 16 seats.
The President of Suriname will be elected indirectly. After the general election, members of the Parliament must vote for the president, and candidates must secure a two-thirds majority to win the office.
“I will serve this office and use all my knowledge, strength and insight to make wealth available to all of us,” Simons, 71, said in a short speech after lawmakers approved her appointment with applause.
Simons vowed to pay special attention to young people and those who still don’t have the best opportunities.
“I am very aware of the responsibility that is on our shoulders right now, which is a responsibility that has been aggravated for me by the fact that I am the first woman to hold this office,” she added. “I don’t need a lot of words. My gratitude and we’ll get to work.”
President Chang Sand-hee, a 66-year-old former police chief who was standing for re-election, faced criticism over his lack of protection for the poorer and more vulnerable sector of society.
Santohi congratulated her on the election and said she wanted lawmakers to take responsibility for their flaws and remember his commitment. He said he will continue to serve the country even after his transition as a member of the Congress.
Suriname, a former Dutch colony independence since 1975, is expected to see a surge in revenue from the country’s first major offshore energy development, an oil and gas project led by Ttef.pa.
The Gran Morgu project is scheduled to begin production in 2028. The discovered reserves could allow Suriname to compete with neighboring Guyana, which grew 43.6% last year as a prominent producer.
However, the campaign had little debate about what the next government, which would hold power until 2030, should do with revenue.
Simons’ election was agreed to a six-party contract two days after the Congressional Contest, but it was not officially held until Sunday’s vote. Her inauguration is scheduled for July 16th.
Suriname’s Parliament supported Simons for a praised post as Vice President of Gregory Lasland, leader of the Suriname Nationalist Party (NPS).
Simons served as a Congress speaker for 10 years until 2020. She garnered the votes behind Santoki, earning over 41,700 votes. She is the head of the NDP and was founded by former President Desi Bouterse. He ruled Suriname’s politics for decades before he died last year as a fugitive.
Bouterse, founder of the NDP, resigned in 2020, the year after being convicted of a 1982 government critic murder case.
When the conviction was upheld in 2023, Booters went into hiding and died at the age of 79 in an unknown location on Christmas Eve.
