President of Suriname
Encyclopedia
The President of the Republic of Suriname is, in accordance with the Constitution of 1987, the head of state
, head of government
, and commander-in-chief
of Suriname
.
The current President is H.E. Dési Bouterse
, a former army officer and military dictator, and member of the Afro-Surinamese
and Roman Catholic communities. He is affiliated with the National Democratic Party
. Bouterse was elected on 19 July 2010 and inaugurated on 12 August at the Anthony Nesty
Sporthal (formerly known as National Indoor Stadium).
in 1975. Until 1987, the role was largely ceremonial. The first officeholder was Dr. Johan Ferrier
, a schoolteacher and veteran politician who had served as governor since 1968. He resigned as president in August 1980, several months after a coup d'état. From then until 1988, the titular Presidents were essentially army-installed puppets of Lt. Col. Bouterse, who ruled as a dictator with few practical checks on his power. Democracy was restored in 1988, the year after the adoption of the constitution, in which the duties and responsibilities of the president were included. On December 24, 1990, two days after Bouterse's resignation as army commander, the army called president Ramsewak Shankar to inform him that he and his cabinet were removed from office. Police Chief and Acting Commander of the army, Ivan Graanoogst was appointed Acting President. On December 27, 1990, Johannes Kraag became the president. Since 1991, the president is elected democratically.
to a five-year mandate and are accountable to the Assembly. During his time in office, the President must forfeit any additional posts in politics or business.
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
, head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
, and commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
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...
.
The current President is H.E. Dési Bouterse
Dési Bouterse
Desiré Delano "Dési" Bouterse is the 9th and current President of Suriname.As an army officer, he was the de facto leader of Suriname through most of the 1980s, serving as Chairman of the National Military Council...
, a former army officer and military dictator, and member of the Afro-Surinamese
Afro-Surinamese
Afro-Surinamese are the inhabitants of Suriname of Black African origin. There are divided into two groups, the Creole people and the Maroons. The Surinamese Creole people are the mixed descendants of West African slaves and Europeans. The Maroons were runaway slaves who formed independent...
and Roman Catholic communities. He is affiliated with the National Democratic Party
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....
. Bouterse was elected on 19 July 2010 and inaugurated on 12 August at the Anthony Nesty
Anthony Nesty
Anthony Conrad Nesty is a former Surinamese international swimmer who was an Olympic gold medalist in the 100-metre butterfly event in 1988.- Early years :...
Sporthal (formerly known as National Indoor Stadium).
History
The office of President was created upon independence from the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1975. Until 1987, the role was largely ceremonial. The first officeholder was Dr. Johan Ferrier
Johan Ferrier
Johan Henri Eliza Ferrier was a Surinamese politician who served as the 1st President of Suriname from November 25, 1975, until August 13, 1980. He was that country's last governor before independence, from 1968 to 1975, and first president after it gained independence from the Netherlands...
, a schoolteacher and veteran politician who had served as governor since 1968. He resigned as president in August 1980, several months after a coup d'état. From then until 1988, the titular Presidents were essentially army-installed puppets of Lt. Col. Bouterse, who ruled as a dictator with few practical checks on his power. Democracy was restored in 1988, the year after the adoption of the constitution, in which the duties and responsibilities of the president were included. On December 24, 1990, two days after Bouterse's resignation as army commander, the army called president Ramsewak Shankar to inform him that he and his cabinet were removed from office. Police Chief and Acting Commander of the army, Ivan Graanoogst was appointed Acting President. On December 27, 1990, Johannes Kraag became the president. Since 1991, the president is elected democratically.
Election
The President and a Vice President are elected by the National AssemblyNational Assembly of Suriname
The National Assembly is the Parliament, representing the legislative branch of government in the Republic of Suriname. It is a unicameral legislature...
to a five-year mandate and are accountable to the Assembly. During his time in office, the President must forfeit any additional posts in politics or business.
Qualification
A candidate must be a Surinamese national (resident in the country for at least six years) who is at least 30 years of age. A candidate must win at least two-thirds of the votes in the Assembly to be elected. If no candidate wins two-thirds after three rounds, the vote then goes to the United People's Congress, composed of the Assembly and local government officials. In this case, a simple majority is required.Powers and duties
The President is vested with extensive functional powers. The President names and dismisses ministers, signs bills, and names and dismisses diplomatic staff. He declares war and states of emergency with the ratification of the National Assembly. He concludes foreign treaties and agreements, again with the assent of the Assembly. He also exercises ceremonial duties such as conferring awards, receiving foreign diplomats, and granting pardons.List of Presidents of Suriname
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johan Ferrier Johan Ferrier Johan Henri Eliza Ferrier was a Surinamese politician who served as the 1st President of Suriname from November 25, 1975, until August 13, 1980. He was that country's last governor before independence, from 1968 to 1975, and first president after it gained independence from the Netherlands... |
25 November 1975 | 13 August 1980 | Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
| 2 | Hendrick Chin A Sen | 15 August 1980 | 4 February 1982 | PNR |
| 3 | Fred Ramdat Misier Fred Ramdat Misier Lachmipersad Frederik "Fred" Ramdat Misier was the 3rd President of Suriname, serving from 1982 to 1988.-Early life:He was born on 28 October 1926 in Paramaribo, Suriname... |
8 February 1982 | 25 January 1988 | Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
| 4 | Ramsewak Shankar Ramsewak Shankar Ramsewak Shankar is a Surinamese politician who was the 4th President of Suriname from 1988 to 1990. He was previously Agriculture & Fisheries Minister from 1969 to 1971.He was elected as President by the National Assembly after a parliamentary election... |
25 January 1988 | 29 December 1990 | VHP Progressive Reform Party (Suriname) The Progressive Reform Party is a Hindustani political party in Suriname.At the last legislative elections , the party was part of the New Front for Democracy and Development that won 31.6% of the popular vote and 14 out of 51 seats in the National Assembly... |
| 5 | Johan Kraag | 29 December 1990 | 16 September 1991 | 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.... |
| 6 | Ronald Venetiaan Ronald Venetiaan Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan served as the 6th and 8th President of Suriname. His first term as president ran from 1991 to 1996 after which he lost in the elections to Jules Wijdenbosch... |
16 September 1991 | 15 September 1996 | NPS National Party of Suriname The National Party of Suriname is a political party in Suriname, founded in 1946, and currently led by Ronald Venetiaan.... |
| 7 | Jules 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... |
15 September 1996 | 12 August 2000 | 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.... |
| 8 | Ronald Venetiaan Ronald Venetiaan Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan served as the 6th and 8th President of Suriname. His first term as president ran from 1991 to 1996 after which he lost in the elections to Jules Wijdenbosch... |
12 August 2000 | 12 August 2010 | NPS National Party of Suriname The National Party of Suriname is a political party in Suriname, founded in 1946, and currently led by Ronald Venetiaan.... |
| 9 | Dési Bouterse Dési Bouterse Desiré Delano "Dési" Bouterse is the 9th and current President of Suriname.As an army officer, he was the de facto leader of Suriname through most of the 1980s, serving as Chairman of the National Military Council... |
12 August 2010 | Incumbent | 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.... |
| Parties: National Democratic Party 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.... (NDP), Nationalist Republican Party (PNR), National Party of Suriname National Party of Suriname The National Party of Suriname is a political party in Suriname, founded in 1946, and currently led by Ronald Venetiaan.... (NPS), Progressive Reform Party Progressive Reform Party (Suriname) The Progressive Reform Party is a Hindustani political party in Suriname.At the last legislative elections , the party was part of the New Front for Democracy and Development that won 31.6% of the popular vote and 14 out of 51 seats in the National Assembly... (VHP) |
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See also
- SurinameSurinameSuriname , 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...
- Politics of SurinamePolitics of SurinamePolitics of Suriname takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Suriname is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the...
- List of colonial heads of Suriname (Netherlands Guiana)
- Vice President of SurinameVice President of SurinameVice President of Suriname is the second highest political position in Suriname. The Vice President is elected in the same indirect way as the President in the National Assembly of Suriname, with two-thirds of votes. If no candidate gets majority after three rounds of votes, the election is carried...
- List of Prime Ministers of Suriname
- Politics of Suriname
- Lists of Incumbents