Jules Albert Wijdenbosch (2 May 1941 – 30 April 2025) was a Surinamese politician who was

President of Suriname The president of the Republic of Suriname () is, in accordance with the Constitution of 1987, the head of state and head of government of Suriname, and commander-in-chief of the Suriname National Army (SNL). The president also appoints a cab ...

from 1996 to 2000 and prime minister from 1987 to 1988.

Life and career

Wijdenbosch was born in Paramaribo on 2 May 1941. He was a trade union and youth leader and worked in a port as a customs officer. He studied political science and public administration in the

University of Amsterdam The University of Amsterdam (abbreviated as UvA, ) is a public university, public research university located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Established in 1632 by municipal authorities, it is the fourth-oldest academic institution in the Netherlan ...

. In 1975 he published a booklet titled ''Schets Surinaamse Republiek Eigen Stijl'' (Sketch of the Surinamese Republic in its own style), in which he called for the formation of a government with many councils and extensive authority for the president. He was a member of the National Democratic Party, which held absolute power in Suriname during the 1980s. From 13 February 1987 he was Prime Minister of Suriname and held concurrent positions as minister of Home Affairs, Justice and Foreign Affairs. He served as Prime Minister until 26 January 1988 before becoming

Vice President A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...

from January 1991 until September 1991. From 1996 to 2000 he was president of Suriname. His cabinet was characterized by a large number of reshuffles. During his administration the

bridge A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...

over the

Suriname River The Suriname River ( Dutch: ''Surinamerivier'') is long and flows through the country of Suriname. Its sources are located in the Guiana Highlands on the border between the Wilhelmina Mountains and the Eilerts de Haan Mountains (where it is kn ...

was also built and was later named after him. Wijdenbosch died in Paramaribo on 30 April 2025, at the age of 83.

References

* 1941 births 2025 deaths Politicians from Paramaribo Presidents of Suriname Vice presidents of Suriname Deputy prime ministers of Suriname Finance ministers of Suriname National Democratic Party (Suriname) politicians Prime ministers of Suriname Democratic National Platform 2000 politicians 20th-century Surinamese politicians {{Suriname-politician-stub