National Assembly of Suriname
Encyclopedia
The National Assembly is the Parliament, representing the legislative branch
of government in the Republic of Suriname
. It is a unicameral legislature. The Assembly is situated at the Independence Square in Paramaribo, after a fire completely destroyed the old building of representation on August 1, 1996.
The 51 members of Parliament are elected every five years by proportional representation
on the basis of the country's component districts
. The most recent elections were held on May 25, 2010. On May 30, Jennifer Simons
was appointed as Chair of the National Assembly. Ruth Wijdenbosch was the first woman to be appointed as Vice Chair.
of 1980. In 1985 the Parliament was replaced by an appointed Assembly. The National Assembly, in its current form, dates from 1987. In that year democracy was reestablished after the coup and a new Constitution was adopted, organizing the Assembly, so new elections could be held on November 25, 1987. From here on, elections were held in 1991, 1996, 2000, 2005 en 2010.
After the elections in 1987, Jagernath Lachmon
(VHP
) became Chairman, an office which he already had taken twice in the States of Suriname. Lachmon resigned in 1996, because he could not agree with the Wijdenbosch
government.
On October 10, 1996 Marijke Djwalapersad (BVD
) was elected as Chair, becoming the first woman in Suriname's history to assume this office. On Juli 24, 2000 Djwalapersad was succeeded by Jagernath Lachmon, who remained in office until his death in 2001. His fellow party man Ramdien Sardjoe took his place.
After the elections of 2005, Paul Somohardjo
of Pertjajah Luhur
(a party that was part of the New Front
combination) wanted to become vice president. This did not seem feasible, since he was convicted in August 2003 for defamation, which resulted in a suspended two-month sentence and his removal as minister. Within the coalition was decided to make Ramdien Sardjoe vice president and Somohardjo Chairman of the National Assembly.
On June 30, 2005 Somohardjo was elected to the proposed office with 29 out of 50 votes. Caprino Allendy (BEP
/A Combination) was elected as Vice Chairman, with the same number of votes.
On June 30, 2010 Jennifer Simons
of NDP
/MC surprisingly won the elections from Somohardjo, with 26 votes against 24 votes, and became the incumbent Chair of the Assembly. Ruth Wijdenbosch was elected as Vice Chair with 25 votes, 1 more than her rival, Anton Paal (PALU
/MC). Besides the fact that she is the first woman elected to this office, this is the first time that both the Chair and Vice Chair are women. Even more remarkable is the fact that this is the first time that these offices are held by opposing politicians.
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
of government in the Republic of Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
. It is a unicameral legislature. The Assembly is situated at the Independence Square in Paramaribo, after a fire completely destroyed the old building of representation on August 1, 1996.
The 51 members of Parliament are elected every five years by proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
on the basis of the country's component districts
Districts of Suriname
-Overview:-History:The country was first divided up into subdivisions by the Dutch on October 8, 1834, when a Royal Decree declared that there were to be 8 divisions and 2 districts:*Upper Suriname and Torarica*Para*Upper Commewijne*Upper Cottica and Perica...
. The most recent elections were held on May 25, 2010. On May 30, Jennifer Simons
Jennifer Simons
Jennifer "Jenny" Simons, married Geerlings is a Surinamese politician. On June 30, 2010 she was elected as Chairperson of the National Assembly of Suriname with 26 out of 50 votes. Simons is the second female chairman of the Surinamese Parlement.Simons was first elected member of the National...
was appointed as Chair of the National Assembly. Ruth Wijdenbosch was the first woman to be appointed as Vice Chair.
History
The first representation was formed by the Colonial States, from 1866. The name was changed to States of Suriname in 1936. When Suriname became an independent republic on November 25, 1975, the representation was named Parliament of the Republic of Suriname. his Parliament was made inoperative during the Coup d'étatCoup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
of 1980. In 1985 the Parliament was replaced by an appointed Assembly. The National Assembly, in its current form, dates from 1987. In that year democracy was reestablished after the coup and a new Constitution was adopted, organizing the Assembly, so new elections could be held on November 25, 1987. From here on, elections were held in 1991, 1996, 2000, 2005 en 2010.
Chairmen since 1975
From December 1973, Emile Wijntuin was the Chairman of the States of Suriname, and remained Chairman of Parliament after Independence, until it was dissolved in August 1980.After the elections in 1987, Jagernath Lachmon
Jagernath Lachmon
Jagernath Lachmon, also Jaggernath Lachmon, was a Surinamese politician of Indian descent. He was one of the founders of the Progressive Reform Party, a Hindustani party founded in 1947 of which he served a long period as President.-Biography:Lachmon was born in Corantijnpolder in the district of...
(VHP
Progressive Reform Party
The Progressive Reform Party was a South African party that was formed on 26 July 1975 by the fusion of the Reform Party led by Harry Schwarz and Progressive Party led by Colin Eglin...
) became Chairman, an office which he already had taken twice in the States of Suriname. Lachmon resigned in 1996, because he could not agree with the Wijdenbosch
Jules Wijdenbosch
Jules Albert Wijdenbosch is a politician in Suriname. He was a member of the National Democratic Party, which held absolute power in Suriname during the 1980s. He was Prime Minister from April 1987 until January 1988, Vice President from January 1991 until September 1991, and President from...
government.
On October 10, 1996 Marijke Djwalapersad (BVD
Basic Party for Renewal and Democracy
The Basic Party for Renewal and Democracy is a political party in Suriname.At the last legislative elections , the party was part of the People's Alliance for Progress that won 14.5% of the popular vote and five out of 51 seats in the National Assembly....
) was elected as Chair, becoming the first woman in Suriname's history to assume this office. On Juli 24, 2000 Djwalapersad was succeeded by Jagernath Lachmon, who remained in office until his death in 2001. His fellow party man Ramdien Sardjoe took his place.
After the elections of 2005, Paul Somohardjo
Paul Somohardjo
Paul Slamet Somohardjo is a Surinamese politician of Javanese descent.In 30 June 2005, Somohardjo was appointed as the speaker of the National Assembly. He is also chairman of the Pertjajah Luhur party.-References:...
of Pertjajah Luhur
Pertjajah Luhur
The Pertjajah Luhur is a Javanese political party in Suriname. At the last legislative elections , the party was part of the People's Alliance that won 13.0% of the popular vote and six out of 51 seats in the National Assembly. Out of these six seats, all went to the PL...
(a party that was part of the New Front
New Front for Democracy and Development
The New Front for Democracy and Development is a Social democratic political alliance in Suriname....
combination) wanted to become vice president. This did not seem feasible, since he was convicted in August 2003 for defamation, which resulted in a suspended two-month sentence and his removal as minister. Within the coalition was decided to make Ramdien Sardjoe vice president and Somohardjo Chairman of the National Assembly.
On June 30, 2005 Somohardjo was elected to the proposed office with 29 out of 50 votes. Caprino Allendy (BEP
Brotherhood and Unity in Politics
The Brotherhood and Unity in Politics is a political party in Suriname.At the last legislative elections , the party was part of the "A Combination", an alliance that won 7.3% of the popular vote and five out of 51 seats in the National Assembly....
/A Combination) was elected as Vice Chairman, with the same number of votes.
On June 30, 2010 Jennifer Simons
Jennifer Simons
Jennifer "Jenny" Simons, married Geerlings is a Surinamese politician. On June 30, 2010 she was elected as Chairperson of the National Assembly of Suriname with 26 out of 50 votes. Simons is the second female chairman of the Surinamese Parlement.Simons was first elected member of the National...
of NDP
National Democratic Party (Suriname)
The National Democratic Party is a political party in Suriname. It was founded in 1987 shortly before the downfall of military dictator Dési Bouterse....
/MC surprisingly won the elections from Somohardjo, with 26 votes against 24 votes, and became the incumbent Chair of the Assembly. Ruth Wijdenbosch was elected as Vice Chair with 25 votes, 1 more than her rival, Anton Paal (PALU
Progressive Workers' and Farmers' Union
The Progressive Workers' and Farmers' Union is a political party in Suriname.At the last legislative elections, held on 25 May 2005, the party won 1.0% of the popular vote and no seats in the National Assembly....
/MC). Besides the fact that she is the first woman elected to this office, this is the first time that both the Chair and Vice Chair are women. Even more remarkable is the fact that this is the first time that these offices are held by opposing politicians.