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The Netherlands respects outcome of Surinamese election

News item | 26-05-2010

The Netherlands respects the decision of the Surinamese electorate, but it has urged the country not to forget the past. This message was expressed in a statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Verhagen in reaction to Suriname's parliamentary election.

According to provisional results, the Mega Combination, led by Desi Bouterse, won the largest number of seats (22). The New Front Combination of President Venetiaan won 14 seats, and Ronnie Brunswijk's A Combination 7.

"Mr Bouterse was sentenced by a Dutch court to 11 years in prison for drug trafficking, and in Suriname he is still on trial for the murder of 15 political opponents in December 1982," said Mr Verhagen. "These things can't be swept under the carpet."

The president and vice president will be chosen sometime in June by the 51 newly elected members of the National Assembly. It is then the president's responsibility to form a new government. A candidate must obtain a 2/3 majority to become president. No one party was able to achieve this.

If a 2/3 majority cannot be found, the United People's Assembly, which consists of all the 910 representatives elected at national and regional level, will choose a president and vice president by simple majority. In that case, the outcome of the voting will not be known until after the summer.