Simon's First Female President; 
Symbolism, Expectations, and Reality

More than Symbolism: Democracy in Action

For Sharda Ganga, the director of Stichting Projekta, the significance of this moment is clear: "The difference lies in the fact that we no longer believe that only one half of the country—the men—has the right to govern. The idea that anyone can become president is a victory for democracy and the principle of non-discrimination."

Carla Bakboord, Chair of Women's Rights Watch, also emphasizes the importance of visibility: "This moment sends a message to young people that women have the right to pursue their own dreams. The notion that such positions are not meant for women has persisted for generations. This is no longer sustainable."

For Karin Refos, an advocate for gender equality, this signifies a breakthrough in the perception of role models. "It's beneficial for both boys and girls to see that women can also become presidents. Women are also role models whom you can look up to."

Leadership demands quality, not excuses.

Nevertheless, the women caution against reducing Simons' appointment to merely her gender. Roseline Daan, a board member of the National Party of Suriname (NPS), articulates it clearly: "It's not about Surinam now 'trying' with a woman because men have supposedly failed. The president must meet the criteria of competence, wisdom, and decisiveness. Gender should never be an aggravating or mitigating factor."

According to Refos, the difference primarily lies in the priorities that women set.
"Women view society differently. They focus less on large infrastructure projects and more on family, poverty alleviation, education, public health, and other social issues that contribute to stability." Bakboord describes this as "governing with both heart and mind. Many women are accustomed to balancing caregiving responsibilities, work, and scarcity. This experience makes them excellent planners, connectors, and listeners."

The burden and strength of the first.

The first woman in the highest office also carries a heavy burden. "The biggest pitfall is that 'the first' wants to prove herself by doing what the men before her did—sometimes even more strictly, like Margaret Thatcher. At the same time, the bar is often set higher for women. What is accepted from men is held against women threefold," says Ganga.

Her perspective is shared by Pokie, who argues that precisely because it involves a woman, additional doubts arise. "You get questions like, 'Can she handle it? Is she capable enough?' You constantly have to prove yourself extra." At the same time, she sees an advantage: "Women often put in extra effort on their way to better positions. That's their strength." According to Refos, research even shows that in countries where women are the head of state, corruption has decreased by an average of 60 percent. "That says a lot about the influence of female leadership on administrative integrity."

Simons' Profile

Regarding Simons, the ladies unanimously agree on her capabilities. Pokie describes her as "a paragon of simplicity" and praises her experience as a former chair of the National Assembly: "She has worked on institutional strengthening of the parliament. Her achievements are visible and measurable. She possesses knowledge, skills, and character."

Refos sees a clear leader in her: "She has experience in governance and knows her responsibilities, yet she is also characterized by her simplicity." Daan highlights what is needed now: "We need a president who is unifying, exudes authority, is stress-resistant, and can stand above the parties. Someone who combines vision with decisiveness and keeps Surinam on track."

Content and reform

Essed-Fernandes states that expectations are high. "The inequality between men and women is still deeply rooted. Suriname has ratified CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women), but its implementation is lagging. This is an important task for this president."

Bakboord hopes that Simons will create space for underrepresented themes such as healthcare, education, and human rights. "These are not 'women's issues', but fundamental building blocks of a healthy society." Sharda Ganga summarizes that, "how you lead a country depends on your knowledge, character, ability to listen, delegate, stay on course, and tackle corruption. This has nothing to do with your gender, but with your mind and heart."

Historical

The arrival of a female president signifies a new phase in the democratic development of Surinam. It's more than just breaking a male monopoly; it's also a test. Not only for Jennifer Simons but also for society. Are we truly ready to see her as a leader, independent of her gender?" Ganga emphasizes.

Bakboord notes that many people, particularly in Surinamese culture, primarily view women as mothers. "However, a mother is also someone who protects, leads, and takes responsibility. If Simons can combine these qualities with administrative decisiveness, this presidency could become a turning point. What she does with it is up to her.
What the country does with it is up to all of us."

VHP takes a seat on the opposition benches

"We have emerged as the second largest party from the elections, yet we must acknowledge that under the current circumstances, this does not provide a workable mandate to take on governing responsibility. At the same time, it is our duty to keep the flame of hope alive among our voters, to stay on course towards sustainable economic recovery, and to continue working towards a just society with equal opportunities for all citizens," says the VHP in a statement just released, following a meeting of its main board on Wednesday evening to discuss its position.

The VHP is entering a phase of repositioning, where it will present itself in the opposition with unity, expertise, and dedication. "We do this with the conviction that the achievements from our recent governing period will hold significant importance for the future of our country."

The VHP will continue to strive for every Surinamer, with the desire to be a unifying force - bringing together people, ideas, and opportunities for the benefit of the country and its people. We will conduct opposition with the understanding that every voice matters, and that ultimately, it's about allowing Suriname to grow and flourish for everyone. After all, this is the mandate given to us by the voters.

We sincerely thank the 87,000 voters who entrusted us with their vote. Your voice has been heard, your trust strengthens us, and your hope is our mission. Together with you, we will continue to strive for social justice, sound decision-making, and a Suriname where everyone counts and feels at home.

"With our strong representation in the National Assembly, our representatives will conduct substantive opposition from their expertise—critical, well-founded, and constructive. Always with the aim of ensuring the well-being of all Surinam people."

All 34 coalition members support Simons and Rusland.

The election of the president and vice president will take place on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at 12:00 PM, during an Extraordinary Public Meeting of the National Assembly.

The submission took place today in accordance with Article 2 of the Act of 5 January 1988. The proposal was submitted by Rabin Parmessar and co-signed by Jennifer Vreedzaam, Stephen Tsang, and Ebu Jones. The documents were officially received by acting clerk Dino Oedit, assisted by Agatha Ramdass and Naresh Algoe.

Members of Parliament have until tomorrow at 12:00 noon to submit alternative nominations to the clerk of the National Assembly. An Assembly member is permitted to support only one candidate for the positions of president and vice-president.

VHP is considering its nominations.

The Progressive Reform Party (VHP) has announced in a press release that it will be considering the legal possibilities for candidacy in the upcoming elections for the leadership of the National Assembly, as well as for the positions of president and vice president of the Republic of Suriname, in the coming days.

This decision follows the Independent Electoral Office's (OKB) declaration that the election results of May 25, 2025, are binding. The VHP acknowledges these results as final.
The party's executive board states that the selected candidates will soon deliberate on their individual declarations of willingness.

The VHP calls on its members to remain determined and emphasizes its commitment to a transparent, accountable, and constructive political process in the interest of democracy.

After corrections, the Independent Electoral Bureau (IEB_OKB) declares the 2025 elections binding

IEB_OKB_Starnieuws_Photo Gompers

Starnieuws: 20 Juni 18:01

Following various corrections and remarks, the Independent Electoral Bureau (IEB) has just declared the elections of May 25, 2025, binding at all levels.

IEB Chairman Samseerali Sheikh-Alibaks detailed the various errors during the public session at Royal Torarica. The protest letters from various political parties, individuals, and organizations were also discussed. All objections were investigated by the IEB.

The omissions were communicated to the Central Electoral Bureau, which made the corrections through an additional official report.
Despite the many detailed remarks, irregularities, adjustments, and the disregard of the IEB's objections on various matters, the elections have been declared binding. This is within the IEB's authority based on its own research and findings. The election results are respected. All members of the IEB have signed the official report. The announcement of the binding declaration was received with applause from the audience.

Election Dashboard Scores, Less Than 1% Difference
with CHS Results

The digital platform used for the first time during the May 25 elections to collect and present voting results has proven its value, according to Prewien Ramadhin, Chair of the IT Election Committee. The discrepancy between digitally and manually processed counts was less than one percent. The Organization of American States (OAS) recommends that the system be structurally integrated into the Surinamese election process.
“Our internal goal was for the digital results to differ by a maximum of 3 to 5 percent from the official count of the Central Electoral Office (CHS). Ultimately, that difference was even less than one percent. This shows that the system is reliable,” he stated in an interview with Starnieuws.
Challenges However, not everything went smoothly. “The biggest challenge was the use of the system by individuals who were not well-acquainted with it. A large part of the trained polling station team was unavailable a few days before the elections, leaving us with insufficient time to properly train replacement staff,” Ramadhin explained. “On election day, we tried to train new personnel remotely during breaks, especially in using the tablets.”
These tablets, essential for entering voting data, were not used at some polling stations. “Some just left them aside because they didn’t know how to use them,” Ramadhin noted. In remote areas, the internet connection was also poor. Although alternative communication via phone was possible, this still led to a delay of three to four days in processing.
Technology The platform was built by the company Blue Doth, based on a public tender. “The software was not acquired from the company but was developed by e-GOV based on our specifications,” Ramadhin emphasized. “The system runs on Power BI and consists of three components: a central database, a working model with tablets (both online and offline), and a dashboard for the broader public.”
On election day, the Microsoft server on which the system ran was temporarily overloaded and poorly accessible for Suriname. “We estimate that at least 200,000 people tried to log in that evening. As a result, the system crashed multiple times. We eventually had to switch to a server with an American domain.”
Seat Allocation An unexpected error in the system's logic caused confusion: it began calculating seat allocation too early. “There was no minimum number of votes set before that calculation could take place. As a result, the dashboard gave a misleading impression – for example, that the NDP already had 26 seats after only a few polling stations were counted. Such a quick conclusion is statistically impossible,” Ramadhin stressed. “We then set a limit of 10,000 incoming votes before the seat allocation became visible.”
Recommendations The software has now been fully transferred to the government and can be used again in future elections. However, new tablets will need to be purchased by then. “The current ones will be outdated. We have recommended donating them to schools,” Ramadhin said.
An important byproduct of the system is the large amount of additional data collected. “Think of information about the distribution of male and female voters, age groups, and the preferred voting times. Such data is valuable for further analyzing and improving the election process.”
Based on experience, it is advised to develop an in-house dashboard in the future to eliminate the need for external licenses. “Overall, we are satisfied. The system has proven its usefulness, and the positive assessment from observers is a clear signal for us. This should be adopted and embedded in Suriname's election organization,” Ramadhin concluded.

**Hassankhan Emphasises Fair Elections
Despite VHP's Objections**

Maurits Hassankhan, the Home Affairs Deputy Minister (Biza).
 Foto Rene Gompers

Deputy Minister Maurits Hassankhan of Home Affairs (Biza) is confident that the Independent Electoral Office (OKB) will responsibly handle the VHP's protest. This party has requested the electoral authority not to declare the election results of certain polling stations as binding. "A party is allowed to do that; it's legally regulated. However, it's the responsibility of the OKB to determine if there are grounds for it. As far as I'm concerned, we can confidently say that the elections were conducted fairly," Hassankhan stated in a conversation with Starnieuws.

In response to the VHP's complaints, Hassankhan noted that the main electoral office in Paramaribo investigated all matters and publicly declared the VHP's protests as unfounded. "I believe the main electoral office has done a good job. The chairman has clearly stated that everything is in order. I trust that the OKB will continue to perform its duties well, and eventually, everything will be resolved."

Addressing the allegations of fraud, which the VHP is also raising, the official expressed that they still affect him. "There can certainly be no talk of fraud on election day. Adequate control moments and mechanisms were in place and correctly applied." He emphasised that the observed issues were not related to fraud but rather to organisational and administrative errors.

Hassankhan explained that many problems arose due to the introduction of a new electoral system. The accompanying legal regulations were delayed, putting the entire process under pressure. The lack of sufficiently trained personnel also led to errors at various polling stations that could have been avoided. An example of this is the use of a tablet to transmit data to the ministry's digital platform, which was often mishandled, causing significant delays.

The Deputy Minister of Biza stated that all these matters need to be evaluated and improved. He mentioned receiving positive feedback from international observers from the Organization of American States and the Caricom. "They have emphasised that the foundation is good, but improvements are needed." Hassankhan added that, now that the CHS has confirmed the election results, it is beneficial for this period to conclude swiftly. "The society desires to return to normal life as it was before the elections."

CHS announces official election results:
seat distribution unchanged

The Central Electoral Office (CHS) has just announced the official election results in a public session. The seat distribution in the National Assembly (DNA) remains unchanged.

The NDP secures 18 seats, the VHP 17, the NPS and ABOP each 6, the PL 2, the BEP 1, and A20 also 1 seat. The results pertain not only to the DNA elections but also to the Resort Councils and District Councils, and are now officially confirmed.

Beyond the party list order, Steve Reyme, number 2 on the A20 list, Ingrid Bouterse Waldring (no. 51 on the NDP list), and Poetini Atompai (list no. 8 on the NPS list) have been declared elected.

The public session of the CHS took place at the KKF building, with significant interest from representatives of various political parties.

No fraud, but mistakes were made

CHS Chairperson Lilawatie Punwasi-Raghoebir stated that despite numerous allegations, there is no evidence of election fraud. However, she acknowledged that many mistakes were made by both polling stations and central electoral offices.

She advocated for measures to be taken in the follow-up process to prevent such errors in the future. Additionally, the relationship between the CHS and the central electoral offices, as well as their powers, should be better defined and organized.

The final step in the process is the assessment by the Independent Electoral Office, which must determine whether the elections will be declared binding.

3 polling stations are still missing

NPS Chairman Rusland: Working with the NDP is of greater importance

During a thanksgiving service of the National Party Suriname (NPS) on Saturday evening, NPS chairman Gregory Rusland stated that forming a coalition and government with the National Democratic Party (NDP) is done in the interest of the greater good. Without mentioning names, Rusland also responded to comments made by honorary chairman and former president Ronald Venetiaan, who strongly disapproved of the declaration of intent signed by Rusland and the potential coalition formation with the NDP during an interview on ABC radio. Venetiaan cited the main reason for his disapproval as the belief that the NPS should not collaborate with the NDP due to the December murders in 1982 and the pursuit of amnesty for the perpetrators of those crimes.

Could you elaborate on the potential implications of this coalition for the political landscape in Suriname?

NPS Chairman Gregory Rusland during the thanksgiving service on Saturday evening at Grun Dyari: (Photos by NPS)

In the lead-up to the Green Party congress, which is scheduled for Sunday, Rusland will address all the structures of the NPS that have been invited to attend. He will provide a report on the discussions held regarding the formation of a new coalition and government. These discussions are being led by the NDP, which, based on the preliminary election results, has secured the most seats (18). Other parties involved in the discussions include the NPS, ABOP, BEP, A20, and Pertjajah Luhur. The congress will decide whether the proposed collaboration will be approved.

Rusland emphasized that decisions within the NPS are made democratically by party structures and must be respected. "You're in a democratic party; this party doesn't belong to you," Rusland remarked pointedly. He urged all NPS members to rally behind the decision of the structures and to conduct themselves as true party members.
"The NPS has an important role to play in the country's development during this crucial phase," he reminded his fellow party members. According to him, the green party worked hard but did not achieve the desired results in the elections. "Nevertheless, we see that the NPS has found itself in a good position."

Rusland explained that even in 2015, when the NDP won 26 seats and the NPS was not needed, he was approached by then NDP chairman Desi Bouterse to form a coalition and government together. At that time, the NPS could demand whatever it wanted, "the sky was the limit," and other parties were eager for such an offer. Russia indicated that he would present the proposal to the NPS structures. He reportedly told Bouterse that although he would consult, he already knew that under the circumstances, the NPS would not agree to cooperate with the NDP. Aware of this, Rusland decided not to consult the party structures further and refrained from forming a coalition with the NDP.

The party chairman asked the members who would like to join the opposition.
The responses indicated that the NPS members are not inclined towards this option. According to Rusland, there are two possibilities based on the preliminary election results: collaborating with the VHP or the NDP. "Choosing the VHP is not an option. It's the same president and vice president we've had for the past five years. How can we join them when we left that coalition two years ago? After all, no one wants to work like that," he stated. Rusland emphasized his understanding of the NPS's roots. "As the chairman, I am aware of my responsibilities within the NPS, and under no circumstances will we accept certain matters. Our principles remain steadfast, as they always have."

"We are now ten years on, the situation has changed, those involved in the 1982 crimes have been convicted, and some have passed away. This country comes first—Suriname above all. As the spiritual leader said: set aside your grudges. Let's focus on the future of our children, the future of the country." According to Rusland, if the proposed collaboration with the NDP does not work out, the NPS knows what to
do—and will act accordingly.

Breaking News:
Upcoming Coalition to Sign Preliminary Agreement Tonight

The NDP, NPS, Pertjajah Luhur, BEP, and A20 are set to sign a preliminary agreement for coalition formation this evening. The agreement will be formally signed during a gathering at D-Venue on Ringweg Zuid. According to preliminary results, these parties can expect to secure 28 seats.

PL is inviting its supporters to witness the signing. "On behalf of the chairperson, I am posting this formally. The preliminary agreement will be signed between NDP, NPS, PL, A20, and BEP. You are invited to show your support by attending in party attire and with flag(s). Arrival time: 6:30 PM Location: D-Venue Address: Ringweg Zuid Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025."

The NDP's executive board has formally nominated party chairperson Jennifer Simons as the presidential candidate. This decision was made during a meeting on Monday, May 26, as part of the coalition formation process following the May 25 elections. The party is preparing to take over the national administration, with Simons expected to play a central role.

Party spokesperson Ricardo Panka previously confirmed to Starnieuws that discussions have been held with various political groups.

With this development, the NDP is making a significant step towards forming a coalition and securing a majority in the United People's Assembly. Based on preliminary results, the party expects to win 26 seats and anticipates that this number may increase once the counting is completed.

Ingrid Bouterse was the only list pusher
elected through preferential votes.

Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring was present in Albina on election day.