Suriname Elects Jennifer Geerlings-Simons First Woman President

Jennifer Geerlings-Simons was elected as Suriname's first female president, set to take office on July 16, following her party's success in legislative elections and the decision of rival parties not to nominate any candidate. At 71, Geerlings-Simons leads the National Democratic Party (NDP), which holds a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, enabling her presidency without opposition from the outgoing administration. She acknowledged the historic nature of her presidency and promised to focus on equitable distribution of wealth, particularly targeting youth and marginalized groups, with an emphasis on benefiting from upcoming oil revenues starting in 2028. Suriname, a diverse and historically turbulent nation with a legacy of civil conflict and economic challenges, anticipates significant economic gains from newly discovered offshore oil reserves. Geerlings-Simons and her vice president candidate, Gregory Rusland, aim to stabilize the nation's finances and promote laws ensuring local participation and benefit from the oil sector. The election marks a significant political transition amid past corruption scandals and economic uncertainty under previous administrations.