Suriname's ruling party, opposition nearly tied in parliamentary election
Suriname's opposition leader Jennifer Geerlings-Simons of the National Democratic Party (NDP) celebrates with supporters as she proclaims herself the winner of the presidency as counting continues during the National Assembly election, in Paramaribo, Suriname, May 26, 2025. REUTERS/Ranu Abhelakh
PARAMARIBO - Suriname's ruling party and its top opposition rival won almost the same number of parliamentary seats in an election on Sunday, setting the stage for complex coalition negotiations that will determine who becomes the country's next president.
The South American nation is on the cusp of a predicted oil boom, but campaigning for the ballot featured little debate about what the next government, which will hold power until 2030, should do with the income.
With 43 polling stations yet to be counted, results showed the opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) - founded by former President Desi Bouterse, who dominated Surinamese politics for decades but died a fugitive last year - had won 18 seats, with 79,544 votes.
The ruling Progressive Reform Party (VHP) of current President Chan Santokhi won 17 seats, with 75,983.
Smaller parties, now potential kingmakers, won the remaining 16 of 51 total seats.
An unknown number of votes from the uncounted polling stations remained to be added to the tally as of early Monday. Turnout so far was 58% of about 400,000 eligible voters.
Negotiations between parties to choose a president and cabinet ministers for the former Dutch colony, independent since 1975, were already expected to take weeks even prior to the tight result.
A two-thirds majority in parliament is required to elect the president.
FIRST MAJOR OFFSHORE PROJECT
Santokhi, a 66-year-old former police commissioner who has campaigned to remain in office, won more votes than any other lawmaker, just under 40,000.
"We asked for a mandate and this is the mandate that the people have given. With that, we now have to move forward. It is up to us to have talks with other political parties based on this," Santokhi, who has not ruled out cooperation with any other party, told local newspaper the Suriname Herald.
The NDP is set to back its party head Jennifer Simons, a doctor who served as parliamentary speaker for a decade until 2020, for president.
Simons was second in vote tallies, winning 34,750 votes.
The NDP will not work with the VHP, NDP Vice Chair Sergio Akiemboto told reporters late on Sunday.
NDP founder Bouterse left office in 2020, the year after he was convicted in the 1982 murders of 15 government critics.
When the conviction was upheld in 2023, Bouterse went into hiding, dying at the age of 79 at an unknown location on Christmas Eve.
Suriname's first big offshore energy development, the Gran Morgu oil and gas project, is set to begin production in 2028.
The project is led by TotalEnergies. Discovered reserves may allow Suriname to compete with neighbor Guyana - whose economy grew 43.6% last year - as a prominent producer. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Wales coach says all pressure on England ahead of rivals' Euro 2025 clash
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox ST. GALLEN, Switzerland - Wales coach Rhian Wilkinson said her team would love nothing more than to spoil England's party when the neighbours and rival nations meet in their final Euro 2025 Group D match on Sunday. Defending champions England already have one foot in the quarter-finals, with a victory ensuring they advance to the knockout round. A draw would also put them through provided France beat the Netherlands. But Wales, who have lost both matches so far at their European championship debut, certainly are not going to make it easy for them. "It would be detrimental to look past us," said the Canadian coach Wilkinson at a press conference. "The pressure's all on them. We know there's still a chance for us, we're aware of it. And when there's a chance, there's always an exciting element that we get to go towards and not be frightened of because what do we have to fear? It's just an exciting opportunity. "We're going to push them to the very end. We're in a very close group - England will be forced to play a strong line-up. We get to show up and spoil the party and that's a wonderful job to have." Wales' chances of advancing are slim - they need to beat England by at least four goals and for France to beat the Dutch. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World US slaps 30% tariffs on EU and Mexico; EU warns of countermeasures Singapore S'pore shows what's possible when digital innovation is matched with purpose: UK foreign secretary Singapore Casual racism should be tackled by getting more people to understand it is not acceptable: David Neo Asia Fuel was cut off during take-off: Preliminary report on Air India crash Singapore Pulling back the curtain: A backstage look at the 2025 NDP show segment Singapore $3 cashback for hawker centre meals and shopping at heartland stores with DBS PayLah initiative Singapore Body of 62-year-old man recovered from waters off East Coast Park Asia Aerobridge hits Qantas plane at Sydney Airport, damaging engine, delaying flight But they would happily play spoiler. "As a Welsh woman, do you want to knock England out? Of course you do," said midfielder Angharad James. "It's in our blood, our DNA and the rivalry has always been and always will be there. It's a rivalry match and it's one that everyone wants to play in. "But the pressure is all on England. They have to come out, they have to perform. They're expected to win this game within our group. We believe that we can upset a very top team, and we're ready for the fight tomorrow. "We'll give it our absolute all for our country and to make them prouder." Wales were drawn into arguably the toughest group of the tournament, with three teams in the top 11 of FIFA's world rankings. But they have been roared on by huge and noisy cheering sections - the Red Wall - at both games, and were rewarded in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to France when 38-year-old Jess Fishlock scored the team's first goal at a major tournament. REUTERS
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Pulling back the curtain: A backstage look at the 2025 NDP show segment
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Ms Jade Koo Ah Mui (right), 70, rehearsing for the NDP show segment with other contingent members from Soka Gakkai, a local religious organisation. SINGAPORE – Clad in a pale blue balletic dress, Ms Jade Koo Ah Mui exuberantly waved her light stick, which periodically glowed purple and blue in tandem with the music. At 70, the septuagenarian is performing in Singapore's National Day Parade (NDP) for the 10th time, as part of the contingent from Soka Gakkai, a local religious organisation. This year, she is joined by her neighbour, brother-in-law and two daughters. Ms Koo said: 'I feel very happy to be here. As a Singaporean, I'm thankful that I'm healthy and can celebrate Singapore's 60th birthday – that's something to be joyous and grateful about.' She is just one of around 3,000 performers from 19 groups who are taking part in the NDP show segment. With the theme 'Majulah Singapura', the show comprises four different acts inspired by the National Anthem . Addressing the media on July 12, Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Ng Eng Ping, chairman of the NDP show support committee, said: 'The National Day Parade has always been the premier platform for our local artistes and creatives to showcase what they have to offer. 'This year, apart from the artistes, we have the young students, the active seniors, and the beautiful, inspiring individuals with disabilities – and all of them form an important part of the fabric in Singapore.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World US slaps 30% tariffs on EU and Mexico; EU warns of countermeasures Singapore S'pore shows what's possible when digital innovation is matched with purpose: UK foreign secretary Singapore Casual racism should be tackled by getting more people to understand it is not acceptable: David Neo Asia Fuel was cut off during take-off: Preliminary report on Air India crash Singapore $3 cashback for hawker centre meals and shopping at heartland stores with DBS PayLah initiative Singapore Body of 62-year-old man recovered from waters off East Coast Park Asia Aerobridge hits Qantas plane at Sydney Airport, damaging engine, delaying flight LTC Ng added that this year's parade show segment has four key messages: celebrate diversity and Singapore's people; reflect on the nation's aspirations; reinvigorate spirits; and move forward with a stronger sense of us. A stage for all ages Rigorous training for the annual spectacle took place over months. On the days of the live rehearsals, the performing team gather at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre to rehearse the choreography, get their make-up done, change into their outfits and collect their props, before heading to the Padang in the evening. Performers getting their make-up done at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI But performers like Ms Koo are undeterred. She said: 'It's physically demanding since we stand for long hours, and the beat of the music can be quite fast. I've been trying to maintain a strong mentality, though, that I definitely need to partake in this.' Alongside senior performers, there are also around 400 young people in a performance featuring students of four local schools: CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School, Fuhua Secondary School, Chung Cheng High School (Yishun) and Anderson-Serangoon Junior College (JC). Alongside senior performers, there are around 400 young people in a performance featuring students of four local schools. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI The students, togged out in red and white vests and crimson bucket hats, perform a choreography routine to popular National Day songs from the past, such as Home and The Road Ahead. Each student holds up a placard bearing personalised responses to the prompts 'I want to...' and 'I want us to...', reflecting their hopes and aspirations as individuals and for Singapore. Seventeen-year-old Srinivasan Shiv Siddarth, a first-year student from Anderson-Serangoon JC, decided to take part in this year's NDP performance after watching his older brother march in the commando contingent at the 2024 parade. Anderson-Serangoon JC student Srinivasan Shiv Siddarth decided to take part in this year's NDP after watching his older brother march at the 2024 parade. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI On balancing schoolwork and a hectic practice schedule, Srinivasan said it has been difficult but manageable. 'During rehearsals at the Padang, there's a lot of waiting time, which you can spend doing work. When you're studying with your friends, I think it's quite easy to get a lot done fast,' he said. 'If there's anything we didn't know (in our homework), we could ask our friends or even the national servicemen who were there.' Another student performer is Zori Rebecca Singer who, at 13, is one of the youngest dancers in her segment. Student performer Zori Rebecca Singer, 13, is one of the youngest dancers in her show segment. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI The Secondary 1 student at CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School said: 'Although it can get really tough and tiring, it's really rewarding at the same time. You learn how to go and do things even when you're really exhausted, and just never give up and persevere.' Her favourite part of the performance is the mellow, emotional second half, when they dance to the song Home. Zori said: 'I think a lot of Singaporeans think of Home as something meaningful, and really connect it to Singapore. 'Personally, it's my favourite National Day song because it's just so meaningful, and I think the performance would really bring tears to the eyes of the people in the audience – it's so good.'
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
UN, Netherlands cancel LGBTQ event in Senegal after government warning
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox DAKAR - The U.N. and the Dutch foreign ministry said on Friday they had cancelled an LGBTQ-themed event in Senegal after the West African nation warned of repercussions for organisers and voiced opposition to all "promotion of the LGBTQI phenomenon". Anti-gay laws are in place in many conservative West African countries, including Senegal, where anyone who commits an "act against nature" with someone of the same sex can be punished by up to five years in prison. In a statement published on X, Senegal's foreign ministry on Friday said it had been informed of a film screening to be hosted by the U.N. and the Dutch embassy that would have been followed by "discussions on LGBTI issues". The statement did not specify when the event was scheduled to occur. "Accordingly, the government reserves the right to take any appropriate action against any organisers of such activities, and even against participants, whatever their origins, status or rank," the foreign ministry statement said. The activities of diplomatic missions and international organizations must comply with the country's regulations, it said. Later on Friday, Seif Magango, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, told Reuters the event "has been cancelled, and we continue to engage with the authorities". Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore ST will have Govt's 'full confidence and support' in its mission: PM Wong Singapore ST will aim to become an indispensable partner to S'pore's communities: Editor Jaime Ho Singapore Wishes for ST beyond 180: Odes to its enduring role in the Singapore story Singapore Heartbeats & Headlines: ST's 180-year legacy comes to life in immersive exhibition Singapore Trusted news, smarter experience with new Straits Times website and app Singapore Community space Stranger Conversations blossoms as 'library of human stories' and life experiences Singapore Man who killed 5-year-old daughter gets life sentence after he appeals against 35-year jail term Singapore Judge declines to void alleged sham marriage in S'pore, says it is for Parliament to decide The Dutch foreign ministry said in a statement that, while the Netherlands "stands for human rights and equal treatment" it had decided to cancel the event "considering various factors". In 2022, Senegalese lawmakers rejected a bid to toughen anti-LGBTQ provisions in the penal code, saying the existing legislation was sufficiently clear. Earlier this year, Ghana reintroduced a bill that could become one of Africa's most restrictive pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation after an earlier attempt to enact it fell short because of legal challenges. The fate of that legislation, which would need to be signed into law by the president, is unclear. REUTERS
