Suriname, post-election policies and challenges for the new government
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Source: MercoPress
On May 25, President Chan Santokhi and his Progressive Reform Party (VHP) won the Suriname parliamentary elections, ending the ten-year rule of President Dési Bouterse and his National Democratic Party (NDP). After the elections, the country experienced a peaceful transition of power from an outgoing government that had been characterized by scandals and uncertainty, to a new administration promising prosperity, unified governance, and a recovery from the financial crisis that has plagued the nation for over five years. Even though the Santokhi administration has inherited a mess––caused by poor fiscal policies and a financial crisis that was aggravated by poor financial choices––it is still in a propitious position. The recent discoveries of offshore oil reserves present significant opportunities for the country. The new administration has presented a three-stage road map to lead the country out of the crisis, but will this new road map lead Suriname to a prosperous destination?