Ruling party re-elected in Suriname's general election

The National Democratic Party (NDP) in Suriname was re-elected to power in Monday’s general election, returning Desi Bourterse, 69, as president of the Dutch speaking Caribbean Community country .

With over 80 per cent of the votes counted, preliminary results indicate that NDP won 27 of the 51 seats in parliament. V7, a coalition of six parties, secured 17 seats. Five seats have gone to Alternative Combination, while the remaining two seats went to DOE and PALU respectively.

The final results are expected Tuesday and an official declaration of the results at least two weeks later.

Highly controversial due to his military dictatorship during the 1980’s and a drug sentence in Holland, Bouterse, who is also one of the main suspects for the murder of 15 opponents in 1982, remains popular due to his social policies.

After he came into power in 2010 by forging a coalition with several other parties, he embarked upon an ambitious programme to increase old-age pensions and other social benefits.

In 2014 Parliament also sanctioned the Minimum Wage Act, a Basic Health Insurance scheme and introduced a General Pension.

Bouterse also cancelled school tuition fees for elementary education while his administration built numerous new schools, and affordable housing.

While the NDP has secured a second consecutive term in office, Bouterse needs at least 34 parliamentarians to side with him in order for him to become President.