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15h ago

Jennifer Geerlings-Simons Elected Unopposed as Suriname’s First Female President

Her scheduled July 16 inauguration comes after IMF-backed debt restructuring to pave the way for future oil revenue management.

Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, center, greets people in Paramaribo, Suriname, Sunday, July 6, 2025, after parliament appointed her as the country's first female president. (AP Photo/Bentik Paulus)
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Hollandse Hoogte/Shutterstock (15388517e) Jennifer Geerlings-Simons arrives at the Suriname parliament where she was elected president. Because there was no opposing candidate, it was done without a vote. Surinamese Parliament Elects Jenny Simons as President, Paramaribo, Suriname - 06 Jul 2025
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Overview

  • On July 6 the National Assembly elected 71-year-old Geerlings-Simons unopposed after her NDP and five allied parties secured a 34-seat supermajority.
  • She will be inaugurated on July 16 as the first woman to lead Suriname since its 1975 independence.
  • Geerlings-Simons takes office after a period of IMF-mediated debt restructuring and austerity under outgoing President Chandrikapersad Santokhi.
  • Her administration plans to stabilize public finances and improve government revenue collection across sectors including small-scale gold mining.
  • With first offshore oil production set for 2028, the new government must establish frameworks to ensure oil wealth benefits the broader population.