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.
National Party of Suriname Nationale Partij Suriname | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | NPS |
| Leader | Gregory Rusland |
| Founded | 29 September 1946 |
| Ideology | Third Way Republicanism Parliamentarism Historical: Afro-Surinamese interests Surinamese independence |
| Political position | Centre[1] |
| Colours | Green |
| National Assembly | 3 / 51 |
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 | 12 | Coalition | ||
| 1951 | 13 / 21
|
61.9 | Coalition | |||
| 1955 | 2 / 21 3 / 21 After VHP candidate withdrawal
|
9.5 | 11 | Opposition | ||
| 1958 | 9 / 21
|
42.9 | 7 | Coalition | ||
| 1963 | 14 / 36
|
38.9 | 5 | Coalition | ||
| 1967 | 17 / 39 18 / 39 After defection Pawiroredjo (SRI)
|
43.6 | 61,085 | 3 | Coalition | |
| 1969 | 11 / 39
|
28.2 | 55,482 | 6 | Opposition | |
| 1973 | 13 / 39
|
33.3 | 2 | Coalition | ||
| 1977 | 15 / 39
|
38.5 | 2 | Coalition | ||
| 1987 | 15 / 51
|
29.4 | Coalition | |||
| 1991 | 12 / 51
|
23.5 | 2 | Coalition | ||
| 1996 | 9 / 51
|
17.6 | 3 | Opposition[a] | ||
| 2000 | 16 / 51
|
29.4 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 2 | Paramaribo: 2 (of 17) | Opposition |
| 2020 | 3 / 51
|
5.9 | 32,394 | 1 | Paramaribo: 3 (of 17) | Coalition |
Representation
editMembers 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- ^ "Over ons". Nationale Partij Suriname (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Gregory Rusland, nieuwe voorzitter NPS" (in Dutch). StarNieuws. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
- ^ "Gregory Rusland leider Nationale Partij Suriname" (in Dutch). 17 June 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
- ^ "Het nieuwe regeerteam dat donderdag aantreedt". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ "Surinaams kabinet officieel begonnen". Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). 17 July 1986. p. 7.
- ^ "Nieuwe regering in Suriname beëdigd". Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). 8 April 1987. p. 7.
- ^ 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]