Jennifer Simons was voted as the first female president of Suriname by the country’s parliament, putting the seasoned politician and doctor in a position to oversee the South American country as it prepares for a significant oil boom.
Six weeks after the opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) won 18 seats in the hotly contested May 25 legislative elections, narrowly defeating incumbent President Chan Santokhi’s Progressive Reform Party, which took 17 seats, Simons received support from lawmakers. The remaining 16 seats were won by smaller parties.
Simons, 71, vowed to serve all Surinamese and prioritize youth and underrepresented groups when she takes office. “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.”
Jennifer Simons was welcomed on her election by incumbent President Santokhi, 66, who was criticized for not protecting underprivileged neighborhoods. He pledged to stay in parliament after resigning and took ownership of the failures of his administration.
With its first big offshore oil and gas development spearheaded by TotalEnergies, Suriname, a former Dutch colony that earned independence in 1975, is set to experience tremendous economic growth. Expected to begin production in 2028, the Gran Morgu project could make Suriname a competitive producer alongside neighboring Guyana, which last year saw an economic growth rate of more than 43%.
Despite this, there was less discussion throughout the most recent election campaign about how the nation should handle the expected windfall. Shortly after the parliamentary vote, a six-party coalition deal was struck to ensure Simons’ president. Her official inauguration is set for July 16.
Simons’ election was overwhelmingly approved by Parliament, which also chose Gregory Rusland, the leader of the National Party of Suriname, to serve as her vice president. Prior to 2020, Simons was the speaker of the parliament for ten years.
