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Jennifer Geerlings‑Simons Sworn in as Suriname’s First Woman President Amid Economic Crossroads.

International | Dated: 07 Jul 2025

On July 6, 2025, Suriname’s National Assembly elected Jennifer Geerlings‑Simons—a 71-year-old physician and long‑time parliamentarian—as the nation’s first female president. Representing the National Democratic Party (NDP), her tenure—set to begin on July 16—signals a historic shift during a time of mounting economic challenges and the promise of an oil boom.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - Dr. Geerlings‑Simons, who led the NDP to win 18 of 51 legislative seats in the May 25, 2025 parliamentary elections, secured her presidency through an indirect vote requiring a two‑thirds majority. A swift coalition formed with five other parties to meet the 34-seat threshold, ending President Chandrikapersad Santokhi’s Progressive Reform Party’s near-majority of 17 seats.
  • - Her election was unanimous, running unopposed in Parliament. Geerlings‑Simons, who served as Speaker of the National Assembly (2010–2020) and became NDP leader in July 2024, emphasized her commitment to “use all my knowledge, strength and insight to make our wealth available to all of our people,” pledging focus on youth and underprivileged communities.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) Suriname’s economy remains fragile: it has undergone IMF-backed debt restructuring and subsidy cuts, leading to public unrest. The country must currently repay around US $400 million annually before its anticipated oil revenues from the Gran Morgu offshore fields begin flowing in 2028.
  • (ii) Geerlings‑Simons has identified tax reforms—especially in small-scale gold mining—and strengthening public finances as her government's top priorities.
  • (iii) The discovery of substantial offshore oil reserves—estimated at 760 million barrels, with potential output of 220,000 barrels/day—has positioned Suriname for a possible economic transformation comparable to nearby Guyana’s 43% GDP surge after oil production began. Still, experts caution that realizing this potential will require transparent governance and equitable distribution of oil wealth, something Geerlings‑Simons aims to prioritize.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Who has recently become the first woman President of Suriname?

Correct Answer: Jennifer Geerlings‑Simons

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Suriname

  • Capital: Paramaribo
  • Official language: Dutch