The National Assembly (''De Nationale Assemblée'', ''The Assembly'', commonly abbreviated "DNA") is the Parliament, representing the

legislative branch A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government. Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known ...

of government in

Suriname Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the nor ...

. It is a

unicameral Unicameralism (from ''uni''- "one" + Latin ''camera'' "chamber") is a type of legislature, which consists of one house or assembly, that legislates and votes as one. Unicameral legislatures exist when there is no widely perceived need for multi ...

legislature. The assembly has been situated in the former park house at the Independence Square in

Paramaribo Paramaribo (; ; nicknamed Par'bo) is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on the banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 241,000 people (2012 census), almost half of Suriname's po ...

, after a fire destroyed the old building of representation on 1 August 1996. A reconstruction of the old building was completed in 2022. The 51 members of parliament are elected every five years by

open list Open list describes any variant of party-list proportional representation where voters have at least some influence on the order in which a party's candidates are elected. This is as opposed to closed list, which allows only active members, par ...

proportional representation Proportional representation (PR) refers to a type of electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. The concept applies mainly to geographical (e.g. states, regions) and political divis ...

on the basis of the country's component

districts A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions ...

. The most recent elections were held on 25 May 2020. The current Chairman of the Assembly,

Marinus Bee Marinus Bee (1971) is a Surinamese politician, Chairman of the National Assembly of Suriname, and sports manager. As sports manager, he was chairman of the Albina Sports Foundation for ten years, and since 2014 chairman of S.V. Papatam. Bee has ...

, was appointed on 14 July 2020.

Dew Sharman Dewanchandrebhose Sharman (20 February 1965) is a Surinamese doctor and politician. He is a member of the National Assembly (Suriname), National Assembly for the Progressive Reform Party (Suriname), Progressive Reform Party (VHP). In 2015, he was ...

was appointed as Vice Chairman on 29 June 2020.

History

The first representation was formed by the Colonial States, from 1866. The name was changed to Estates of Suriname in 1936. When Suriname became an independent republic on 25 November 1975, the representation was named Parliament of the Republic of Suriname. This Parliament was made inoperative during the

coup d'état A coup d'état (; French for 'stroke of state'), also known as a coup or overthrow, is a seizure and removal of a government and its powers. Typically, it is an illegal seizure of power by a political faction, politician, cult, rebel group, m ...

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 25 November 1987. From here on, elections were held. In some cases, a two-thirds majority is required, like the election of the President. If those votes fail, ''De Verenigde Volksvergadering'' (The United Nation Meeting) is called. In those meetings, the

Districts A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions ...

and Resorts will participate, and vote on the issue by majority.

Chairmen since 1975

Nationale Assemblée, seen from Suriname river

From December 1973,

Emile Wijntuin Emile Linus Alfred Wijntuin (22 September 1924 – 7 May 2020) was a Surinamese politician who served as Chairman of the National Assembly of Suriname from 1975 until the aftermath of the 1980 Surinamese coup d'état. Wijntuin was a member of t ...

was the Chairman of the Estates of Suriname, and remained Chairman of Parliament after Independence, until it was dissolved in August 1980. After the elections in 1987, Jagernath Lachmon ( VHP) became Chairman, an office which he already had taken twice in the Estates of Suriname. Lachmon resigned in 1996, because he could not agree with the Wijdenbosch government. On 10 October 1996, Marijke Djwalapersad (

BVD BVD is a brand of men's underwear, which are commonly referred to as "BVDs". The brand was founded in 1876 and named after the three founders of the New York City firm: (Joseph W.) Bradley, (Luther C.) Voorhees, and (Lyman H.) Day (thus "B.V.D ...

) was elected as Chair, becoming the first woman in Suriname's history to assume this office. On 24 July 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 Salam Somohardjo (born 2 May 1943) is a Surinamese politician of Javanese descent. Somohardjo (nickname: ''Sómo'') has been called Paul Salam Somohardjo since childhood. Somohardjo also owns a radio and television station. Biography In 19 ...

Pertjajah Luhur The Pertjajah Luhur is a political party in Suriname. Founded in 1998 by Paul Somohardjo, it represents Javanese Surinamese. At the last legislative elections (25 May 2010), the party was part of the People's Alliance for Progress that won 13.0 ...

(a party that was part of the New Front combination) wanted to become

Vice President of Suriname The vice president of Suriname ( nl, Vicepresident van de Republiek Suriname) is the second-highest political position in Suriname, after the President of Suriname, president. The president and the vice president are elected by the National Asse ...

. 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 30 June 2005, Somohardjo was elected to the proposed office with 29 out of 50 votes. Caprino Alendy ( BEP/

A-Combination The A-Combination ( nl, A-Combinatie) was a political alliance in Suriname. History The A-Combinatie was formed in 2005 as an alliance of Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), the General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) and Seeka, ...

) was elected as vice-Chairman, with the same number of votes. On 30 June 2010, Jennifer Simons of

Dési Bouterse Desiré Delano "Dési" Bouterse (; born 13 October 1945) is a Surinamese military officer, politician, convicted murderer and drug trafficker who served as President of Suriname from 2010 to 2020. From 1980 to 1987, he was Suriname's ''de facto ...

's NDP/ MC surprisingly won the office 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, one more than her rival, Anton Paal (

PALU Palu, which is officially known as the City of Palu ( Indonesian: ''Kota Palu''), is the capital and largest city of Central Sulawesi. Palu is located on the northwestern coast of Sulawesi and borders Donggala Regency to the north and west, Par ...

/ MC). Remarkable is the fact that this is the first time that these offices are held by opposing politicians. It is also the first time that both offices are held by women. On 29 June 2020,

Ronnie Brunswijk Ronnie Brunswijk (; born 7 March 1961) is a Surinamese politician, businessman, footballer, convicted drug trafficker, former rebel leader, and the current Vice President of Suriname. Brunswijk served in the early 1980s as the personal bodyguard ...

was elected as Chairperson of the National Assembly in an uncontested election.

was elected as Vice Chairperson. After Brunswijk was elected

on 13 July 2020,

was installed as his successor on 14 July 2020.

Composition

In the elections of 25 May 2020, the 51 parliamentary seats were allocated as follows:

Notes

References

External links