Suriname's parliament has elected Jennifer Simons as the country's first female president, setting the veteran lawmaker and physician on course to lead the South American nation just as it anticipates a major oil boom.
Lawmakers backed Simons six weeks after closely contested parliamentary elections on May 25, which saw her opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) secure 18 seats, narrowly edging out incumbent President Chan Santokhi's Progressive Reform Party, which won 17. Smaller parties claimed the remaining 16 seats.
Suriname's president is chosen indirectly, with members of the National Assembly voting to elect the head of state. A candidate must secure a two-thirds majority to win.
Accepting the office, Simons, 71, pledged to serve all Surinamese people and focus on youth and marginalized groups.
"I come into this office to serve, and I will use all my knowledge, strength, and insight to make our wealth available to all of our people," she said. "I am very aware of the responsibility now placed on our shoulders, a responsibility compounded for me by the fact that I am the first woman to hold this office. My thanks, and we will get to work."
Incumbent President Santokhi, 66, who faced criticism for failing to protect poorer communities, congratulated Simons on her election. He accepted responsibility for his administration's shortcomings and vowed to continue serving in parliament after stepping down.
Suriname, a former Dutch colony that gained independence in 1975, is poised for significant economic growth thanks to its first major offshore oil and gas development, led by TotalEnergies. The Gran Morgu project, expected to start production in 2028, could transform Suriname into a rival producer alongside neighboring Guyana, which posted an economic growth rate of over 43% last year.
Despite this, the recent election campaign saw little debate over how the country should manage the anticipated windfall. Simons' presidency was secured through a six-party coalition agreement reached shortly after the parliamentary vote, and her formal inauguration is scheduled for July 16.
Parliament confirmed Simons' election by acclamation, also selecting National Party of Suriname leader Gregory Rusland as her vice president.
Simons previously served as parliamentary speaker for a decade until 2020. She leads the NDP, a party founded by former President Desi Bouterse, who was a dominant figure in Surinamese politics for decades before dying last year while on the run. Bouterse left office in 2020, a year after being convicted over the 1982 killings of 15 government critics. When the conviction was upheld in 2023, he went into hiding and died at 79 on Christmas Eve at an undisclosed location.
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