Suriname

National Assembly

Political system
Presidential system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Parliamentary mandate

Start and end of mandate

Start of the parliamentary mandate for newly elected members
When the election results are declared
Start of the parliamentary mandate for appointed members
Not applicable
End of the parliamentary mandate
When the new chamber meets for the first time

Speaker

Mode of designation of the Speaker
The Speaker is elected from among the members of parliament/chamber
Authority that designates the Speaker when the Speaker is designated from outside parliament.
Not applicable
Rank of the Speaker in the hierarchy of the State
Not applicable

Notes:

The Parliament's Speaker does not play a role.
In the case both the President or Vice President is unavailable, the oldest Minister of the sitting government takes over. This is determined at the beginning of the term by the government itself.

Speaker becomes interim Head of State in the event of the latter’s death or incapacity
No
Speaker's mandate continues between legislatures
Yes

Speaker terms

The term of the Speaker is different from the term of the house
No
Speaker's term
4 Years
Fixed election date for the Speaker, if any
No information available

Immunity and code of conduct

Parliament’s authorization is required for the detention or prosecution of members
No

Notes: The is no explicit legislation barring the detention or prosecution of members. There is legislation that in some cases, the Attorney General can ask the parliament for authorisation.

Sources: https://www.dna.sr/media/309102/SB_2001_No_72.pdf

There is a Code of conduct for members
No

Salaries and allowances

Members are paid salaries by parliament
Yes
(2022)
Basic salary, per year
No information available
Basic salary, per year in PPP
No information available
Basic allowances
No information available
Names of the basic allowances

Representation allowance ( equivalent to 45% of basic salary)

Transport allowance (equivalent to 50% of basic salary)

Telephone allowance

Members pay income tax on salaries
Yes
Members pay income tax on allowances
No
Members can have remunerated employment outside parliament
Yes
Members are required to declare income from other employment to parliament
Yes
Salary of the Speaker
No information available
The parliamentary salary is determined in reference to another salary scale
No
Reference scale used for parliamentary salaries
Click for historical data

Notes: The Constitutions of 1939, 1948 and 1950 indicated that a law would determine when women would be given the right to vote. That right was established by the Electoral Law of 1950 and enshrined in the Constitution, adopted on 21 April 1955

Information on salaries and allowances on the parliamentary website

Not available.

Year data was last reported

2020

Facilities, services and allowances for constituency work
Personal staff to work directly for the parliamentarian
Yes
Office at parliament
Yes
Constituency office
No
Housing
No
Other cash or in-kind allowances for constituency work
Yes

Notes:

Business trips (day money, hotel, representation)

All other work-related expenses can be declared (overnight stay etc.)

Additional salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Additional salaries and allowances provided for leadership positions
Yes
List of salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Salary Allowances
Speaker Yes
Committee Chair No

Participation in the government

Members of the government must also be members of parliament
Can be a member of parliament

Notes: The status of member of the National Assembly ceases in case of appointment as Minister or Vice-Minister. In case a Minister or Vice-Minister is elected as MP, these offices may be combined for a period not exceeding three months after admission to the National Assembly. The President and the Vice-President may not hold other political and administrative offices.

Sources: Constitution art.68 and art. 94

Number of members of the parliament/chamber who are also members of the government
Click for historical data
Percentage of members of parliament/chamber who are also members of the government
Click for historical data

Historical data for IPU membership

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