Ank Kuipers (Reuters) reports that, today, congresswoman and physician Jennifer Geerlings-Simons was elected as Suriname’s first woman president.
AFP adds that Suriname, a diverse country made up of descendants of people from India, Indonesia, China, the Netherlands, Indigenous groups and African slaves, marks its 50th anniversary of independence from the Dutch throne this November. Geerlings-Simons seems to “speak to” all groups.
Suriname’s parliament backed Jennifer Simons as the South American country’s first woman president on Sunday, six weeks after the former ruling party and its top opposition nearly tied in the race for legislative seats.
Simons’ opposition National Democratic Party won 18 seats and current President Chan Santokhi’s Progressive Reform Party won 17 seats in the May 25 parliamentary election. Smaller parties won the remaining 16 seats. [. . .]
“You will soon be our country’s first female president – a historic moment of national significance,” parliament speaker Ashwin Adhin said after lawmakers approved the election of Simons with a round of applause.
Suriname, a former Dutch colony independent since 1975, is on the cusp of a predicted oil boom, but campaigning featured little debate about what the next government, which will hold power until 2030, should do with the income.
The election of Simons was agreed in a six-party deal two days after the parliamentary contest but was not made official until Sunday’s vote. Her inauguration is scheduled for July 16. [. . .]
For original article see https://www.reuters.com/world/suriname-parliament-elects-simons-first-female-president-2025-07-06/
Also see https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250703-geerlings-simons-set-to-be-suriname-s-first-woman-president, https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/jennifer-geerlings-simons-1953/ and https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/04/suriname-first-female-president
[Photo above by Ranu Abhelakh (Accessed via REUTERS): Suriname’s opposition leader Jennifer Geerlings-Simons of the National Democratic Party (NDP) celebrates with supporters as she proclaims herself the winner of the presidency as counting continues during the National Assembly election, in Paramaribo, Suriname, May 26, 2025.]