National Party of Suriname

National Party of Suriname
Nationale Partij Suriname
AbbreviationNPS
LeaderGregory Rusland
Founded29 September 1946; 77 years ago (1946-09-29)
IdeologyThird Way
Republicanism
Parliamentarism
Historical:
Afro-Surinamese interests
Surinamese independence
Political positionCentre[1]
Colours  Green
National Assembly
3 / 51

The National Party of Suriname (Dutch: Nationale Partij Suriname, NPS) is a political party in Suriname, founded in 1946, and since June 2012 led by Gregory Rusland. For a long time it was the largest ruling party in the country, and it has been in government for a total of over 40 years. Of the 16 general elections held in Suriname, the party or a coalition it was a leading part of finished in first place 11 times. The party tends to be more popular among Afro-Surinamese and multiracial people.

At the 2005 legislative elections, the party was part of the New Front for Democracy and Development that won 41.2% of the popular vote and 23 out of 51 seats in the National Assembly.

In 1993, Ronald Venetiaan became party leader. Since that time, the NPS witnessed a decline in the elections that followed. In June 2012, Venetiaan stepped down from party leadership. Party elections were held for his successor with Gregory Rusland winning seven out of eleven districts, and Ivan Fernald winning four.[2][3] Under Rusland's leadership, the party has adopted some elements of the Third Way into its ideology and moved slightly closer to the political centre.

In the 2020 elections, the NPS won 3 of the 51 seats.

Electoral results[edit]

Election year No. of

overall seats won

% of seats Votes +/– Districts won Government
1949
13 / 21
61.9 Increase 12 Coalition
1951
13 / 21
61.9 Coalition
1955
2 / 21
3 / 21
After VHP candidate withdrawal
9.5 Decrease 11 Opposition
1958
9 / 21
42.9 Increase 7 Coalition
1963
14 / 36
38.9 Increase 5 Coalition
1967
17 / 39
18 / 39
After defection Pawiroredjo (SRI)
43.6 61,085 Increase 3 Coalition
1969
11 / 39
28.2 55,482 Decrease 6 Opposition
1973
13 / 39
33.3 Increase 2 Coalition
1977
15 / 39
38.5 Increase 2 Coalition
1987
15 / 51
29.4 Coalition
1991
12 / 51
23.5 Decrease 2 Coalition
1996
9 / 51
17.6 Decrease 3 Opposition[a]
2000
16 / 51
29.4 Increase 7 Paramaribo: 6 (of 17)

Sipaliwini: 2 (of 4)

Marowijne: 2 (of 3)

Para: 2 (of 3)

Wanica: 1 (of 7)

Nickerie: 1 (of 5)

Brokopondo: 1 (of 3)

Coronie: 1 (of 2)

Coalition
2005
8 / 51
15.7 35,457 Decrease 8 Paramaribo: 3 (of 17)

Wanica: 1 (of 7)

Sipaliwini: 1 (of 4)

Nickerie: 1 (of 5)

Para: 1 (of 3)

Coronie: 1 (of 2)

Coalition
2010
4 / 51
7.8 29,452 Decrease 4 Paramaribo: 3 (of 17)

Para: 1 (of 3)

Opposition
2015
2 / 51
3 / 51
from 4 December 2018
3.9

5.9

16,049 Decrease 2 Paramaribo: 2 (of 17) Opposition
2020
3 / 51
5.9 32,394 Increase 1 Paramaribo: 3 (of 17) Coalition

Representation[edit]

Members of the Santokhi Cabinet (2020)[edit]

Ministers[4] Party Portfolio
Marie Levens NPS Education, Science & Culture
Silvano Tjong-Ahin NPS Spatial Planning and Environment

Members of the Third Venetiaan Cabinet (2005-2010)[edit]

Ministers Party Portfolio
Ronald Venetiaan NPS President
Lygia Kraag-Keteldijk NPS Foreign Affairs
Ivan Fernald NPS Defense
Humphrey Hildenberg NPS Finance
Gregory Rusland NPS Natural Resources

Members of the Second Venetiaan Cabinet (2000-2005)[edit]

Ministers Party Portfolio
Ronald Venetiaan NPS President
Marie Levens NPS Foreign Affairs
Ronald Assen NPS Defense
Humphrey Hildenberg NPS Finance
Franco Demon NPS Natural Resources
Romeo van Russel NPS Regional Development

Members of the First Venetiaan Cabinet (1991-1996)[edit]

Ministers Party Portfolio
Ronald Venetiaan NPS President
Eddy Sedoc (acting)

Rudi Roseval

Eddy Sedoc (acting)

Humphrey Hildenberg

NPS Finance
Harold Pollack

Franco Demon

NPS Natural Resources
Rufus Nooitmeer

Romeo van Russel

NPS Regional Development
Cor Pigot

Gerard Hiwat

NPS Education
Eddy Sedoc

Ronald Assen

NPS Planning and Development Cooperation

Members of the Shankar Cabinet (1988-1990)[edit]

Ministers Party Portfolio
Henck Arron NPS Vice President and Planning
Eddy Sedoc NPS Foreign Affairs
Ronald Venetiaan NPS Education
Romeo van Russel NPS Labour
Elfriede Alexander-Vanenburg NPS Internal Affairs
Wilfred Grep NPS Transport, Trade and Industry

Members of the Radhakishun Cabinet (1986-1987) and the First Wijdenbosch Cabinet (1987-1988)[edit]

Ministers[5][6] Party Portfolio
Harry Kensmil NPS Natural Resources and Energy
Arthy Jessurun NPS Public Health
Wilhelm Wolfram NPS Public Works, Telecommunications and Construction

Members of the Second Arron cabinet (1977-1980)[edit]

Ministers Party Portfolio
Henck Arron NPS Prime minister and Foreign Affairs
Olton van Genderen NPS Internal Affairs
Lesley Goede NPS Finance
Ronald Venetiaan NPS Education
Michael Cambridge NPS Construction
Achmed Karamat Ali NPS Public Works and Traffic

Members of the First Arron cabinet (1973-1977)[edit]

Ministers Party Portfolio
Henck Arron NPS Prime minister and Finance
Olton van Genderen NPS District Administration and Decentralization
Ronald Venetiaan NPS Education
Michael Cambridge NPS Construction
Achmed Karamat Ali NPS Public Works and Traffic

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Over ons". Nationale Partij Suriname (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Gregory Rusland, nieuwe voorzitter NPS" (in Dutch). StarNieuws. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Gregory Rusland leider Nationale Partij Suriname" (in Dutch). 17 June 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Het nieuwe regeerteam dat donderdag aantreedt". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Surinaams kabinet officieel begonnen". Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). 17 July 1986. p. 7.
  6. ^ "Nieuwe regering in Suriname beëdigd". Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). 8 April 1987. p. 7.
  1. ^ The NDP alleged fraud and a lack of free and fair conditions. As a result, the New Front for Democracy and Development disintegrated and eventually 29 legislators joined under the control of the coalition led by the NDP.[citation needed]