1 / 4

First Woman President

On July 6, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons was elected as Suriname's first woman president after her National Democratic Party (NDP) won the most seats in May's legislative elections. With 18 seats and support from five allied parties, the NDP secured the two-thirds parliamentary majority needed. At 71, Geerlings-Simons became the sole candidate after rivals withdrew. In her speech, she acknowledged the historic moment and pledged to focus on youth and underserved citizens. Her inauguration is set for July 16. New India Abroad highlights this milestone as a turning point in Suriname's political land

Newindia1
Télécharger la présentation

First Woman President

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. First Woman President In a historic political shift, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons has been elected as Suriname's first woman president, marking a new chapter for the South American nation. The 71-year-old former opposition leader secured the presidency on July 6, following her party’s strong performance in the legislative elections held in May. Geerlings-Simons, representing the National Democratic Party (NDP), emerged as the sole candidate after her political rivals chose not to nominate anyone by the July 3 deadline. Her party won 18 of the 51 seats in the National Assembly and forged an alliance with five other parties, forming a coalition that now holds 34 seats—enough to surpass the two-thirds majority needed to elect a president.

  2. This victory comes after the decline of the centrist VHP party, led by outgoing president Chan Santokhi. Despite hopes of forming a new coalition government, Santokhi’s party conceded, issuing a statement that it would not oppose Geerlings-Simons' candidacy. The National Democratic Party, once led by controversial figure Desi Bouterse—a former coup leader turned president—has faced its share of criticism. Bouterse, who passed away in hiding in December 2024, had been convicted in the Netherlands for drug trafficking and left behind a legacy of authoritarianism and corruption. Under his leadership, Suriname had earned a reputation as a narco-state. Geerlings-Simons, however, is seen as a seasoned politician with a different vision. In her acceptance speech before lawmakers, she acknowledged the weight of her new role and the significance of becoming the country’s first female head of state.

  3. “I am acutely aware of the responsibility that now rests on our shoulders,” she said. “This responsibility is made greater by the fact that I am, in fact, the first woman to hold this office.” She also pledged to focus on inclusive development: “I will use all my knowledge, strength and insight to make our wealth available to all our fellow citizens, with special attention to our young people and those who have so far not had the opportunities to develop.” Her official inauguration is scheduled for July 16. New India Abroad will continue to follow this significant political development in Suriname. For more information Visit us : https://www.newindiaabroad.com/english/news/jennifer-geerlings-simons-becomes-s urinames-first-woman-president

More Related