Suriname

National Assembly

Political system
Presidential system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes
»

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s)
25 May 2020
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
No information available
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections
31 May 2025
Number of seats at stake
51
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
17
Total number of candidates
597
Number of male candidates
346
Number of female candidates
251
Percentage of women candidates
42.0%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
383,333
Voters
283,834
Voter turnout
74.0%

Results

About the election

No party won an outright majority in the 51-member National Assembly in the 2020 elections. The Progressive Reform Party (VHP, led by former Justice Minister Chandrikapersad Santokhi) came first with 20 seats, winning four more seats than the National Democratic Party (NDP), led by President Desi Bouterse (see note 1). The VHP subsequently formed a four-party coalition (see note 2) in advance of the indirect election of the President by the National Assembly.

On 29 June, the newly elected National Assembly elected Mr. Ronnie Brunswijk (General Liberation and Development Party, ABOP) as its new Speaker. He thereby became the first Maroon (descendant of African slaves) to assume the post. On 15 July, the National Assembly elected Mr. Santokhi (VHP) as the new President of the Republic. Speaker Ronnie Brunswijk was elected as the new Vice President and was replaced as Speaker by Mr. Marinus Bee (ABOP).

The 2020 elections were held amid various corruption scandals and a partial lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Many parties ruled out coalition with NDP.

Note 1:

In November 2019, a court convicted Mr. Bouterse over the executions of 15 opponents in December 1982 when he was the country's military ruler and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. No arrest warrant was issued.

Note 2:

The coalition included the VHP, the General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP), the National Party of Suriname (NPS, led by Mr. Gregory Rusland) and the Pertjajah Luhur (PL, led by Mr. Paul Somohardjo) which jointly held 33 seats in total.

Number of parties winning seats
6
Percentage of parties winning seats
35.3%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
39.2%
Alternation of power after elections
Yes
Number of parties in government
4
Names of parties in government
Progressive Reform Party (VHP), General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP), National Party of Suriname (NPS), Pertjajah Luhur (PL)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total
Progressive Reform Party (VHP) 20
National Democratic Party (NDP) 16
General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) 8
National Party of Suriname (NPS) 3
Pertjajah Luhur (PL) 2
Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP) 2
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
36
Number of women elected
15
Percentage of women elected
29.4%
Women Directly Elected
15
Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
36
Total number of women after the election
15
Percentage of women after the election
29.4%
First-term parliamentarians
32
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
62.7%
Date of the first session
29 Jun 2020

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Ronnie Brunswijk (Male)
Date of birth: 1962
Political party
General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP)
Date of election
29 Jun 2020

Historical data for IPU membership

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Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No