Government and Politics of Suriname

Government Type

constitutional democracy

Administrative Divisions

10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Legal System

based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Suriname dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Chan Santokhi (since 16 July 2020); Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk (since 16 July 2020); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Chan Santokhi (since 16 July 2020); Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk (since 16 July 2020); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate receives a two-thirds constitutional majority in the National Assembly after two votes, by a simple majority in the larger United People's Assembly (893 representatives from the national, local, and regional councils), for five-year terms; election last held on 25 May 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: Chan Santokhi elected president unopposed by the National Assembly on 13 July 2020; Santokhi's Progressive Reform Party had won a majority in the May 2020 parliamentary elections, allowing the National Assembly to elect him directly without requiring a vote in the United People's Assembly

Legislative Branch

unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 25 May 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - VHP 27.45%, NDP 22.35%, ABOP 17.65%, NPS 12.55%, PL 9.80%, other 10.20%; seats by party - VHP 20, NDP 16, ABOP 9, NPS 3, PL 2, other 1

Judicial Branch

Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court (justices are nominated for life)

Political Parties

Alternative-1 or A-1 (a coalition of Amazone Party of Suriname or APS [Kenneth VAN GENDEREN], Democrats of the 21st Century or D-21 [Soewarto MOESTADJA], Nieuw Suriname or NS [Radjen Nanan PANDAY], Political Wing of the FAL or PVF [Jiwan SITAL], Trefpunt 2000 or T-2000 [Arti JESSURUN]); General Interior Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE]; New Front for Democracy and Development or NF (a coalition which includes A-Combination or A-Com [leader NA], Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91 which split from the A-1 before the elections of May 2005 and are an independent, business-oriented party [Winston JESSURUN], National Party Suriname or NPS [Ronald VENETIAAN], United Reform Party or VHP [Ram SARDJOE], Pertjaja Luhur or PL [Salam Paul SOMOHARDJO], Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Siegfried GILDS]); Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE [Marten SCHALKWIJK]; People's Alliance for Progress or VVV (a coalition of Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP-2000 [Jules WIJDENBOSCH], Grassroots Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN], Party for National Unity and Solidarity of the Highest Order or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA], Party for Progression, Justice, and Perseverance or PPRS [Renee KAIMAN], Pendawalima or PL [Raymond SAPOEN]); Progressive Laborers and Farmers Union or PALU [Jim HOK]; Progressive Political Party or PPP [Surinder MUNGRA]; Seeka [Paul ABENA]; Union of Progressive Surinamers or UPS [Sheoradj PANDAY]

Head of State

President Chan Santokhi

Head of Government

President Chan Santokhi

Cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

Elections

last held 25 May 2020 (next to be held in 2025)

Election Results

percent of vote by party - VHP 27.45%, NDP 22.35%, ABOP 17.65%, NPS 12.55%, PL 9.80%, other 10.20%; seats by party - VHP 20, NDP 16, ABOP 9, NPS 3, PL 2, other 1

Constitution

ratified 30 September 1987

Independence

25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

International Organization Participation

ACP, Caricom, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488 FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Marsha E. BARNES embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington, DC, 20521-3390 telephone: [597] 472-900 FAX: [597] 425-690

Capital City

Paramaribo

Location

5 50 N, 55 10 W

Time Difference

UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

the name may be the corruption of a Carib (Kalina) village or tribe named Parmirbo

U.S. Embassy Paramaribo Drs. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo, Suriname Telephone: (597)-472900 Emergency after-hours telephone: (597)-0710-1112 Facsimile: (597)-425788

Military Branches

Suriname Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces

Service Age and Obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; personnel drawn almost exclusively from the Creole community