SURINAME: parliamentary elections Nationale Assemblee, 1991

SURINAME
Parliamentary Chamber: Nationale Assemblee

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1991

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Chamber:

Nationale Assemblee

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

25 May 1991

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament following the premature dissolution of this body in the wake of the December 1990 coup d’Etat. General elections had previously been held in November 1987.

Background and outcome of elections:

On 24 December 1990, President of the Republic R. Shankar was deposed in a military coup d’Etat. The army installed a provisional civilian Government and promised new parliamentary elections within 100 days.
The election date was set on 7 February. Main challengers for the National Assembly’s 51 seats were the New Front for Democracy and Development - a coalition of ethnic-based parties plus the Labour Party; the military-backed National Democratic Party (NDP); and the centre-left Democratic Alternative ’91 - an alliance of four small anti-military parties. Both New Front and Democratic Alternative ’91 opposed future military involvement in politics and favoured a Commonwealth-style union with the Netherlands (the former colonial power). Campaign debate, especially on the part of NDP, furthermore related to social and economic issues (inflation, Dutch foreign aid, etc.).
The polling process was monitored by teams of international observers, who called it largely free and fair. Final results gave New Front the largest number of seats but nevertheless left it four shy of the two-thirds Assembly majority it needed to amend the Constitution and choose the Government on its own. In the event, the newly elected legislature participated in selecting the President (Head of Government) and Vice-President of the Republic (Chairman of the Council of Ministers). These were, respectively, Mr. R.R. Venetiaan and Mr. G.-R. Ajodhia. The president was inaugurated on 16 September.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (25 May 1991): Elections results

Number of registered electors 246,929

Voters 170,000 (approx.)

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total Gain/Loss

New Front for Democracy and Development 30 -10

National Democratic Party (NDP) 12 +9

Democratic Alternative ’91* 9 -

Comments:

* New party formed in 1991.

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 49

Women: 2

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for SURINAME <<<

Chamber:
	Nationale Assemblee
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	25 May 1991
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament following the premature dissolution of this body in the wake of the December 1990 coup d’Etat. General elections had previously been held in November 1987.
Background and outcome of elections:
	On 24 December 1990, President of the Republic R. Shankar was deposed in a military coup d’Etat. The army installed a provisional civilian Government and promised new parliamentary elections within 100 days. The election date was set on 7 February. Main challengers for the National Assembly’s 51 seats were the New Front for Democracy and Development - a coalition of ethnic-based parties plus the Labour Party; the military-backed National Democratic Party (NDP); and the centre-left Democratic Alternative ’91 - an alliance of four small anti-military parties. Both New Front and Democratic Alternative ’91 opposed future military involvement in politics and favoured a Commonwealth-style union with the Netherlands (the former colonial power). Campaign debate, especially on the part of NDP, furthermore related to social and economic issues (inflation, Dutch foreign aid, etc.). The polling process was monitored by teams of international observers, who called it largely free and fair. Final results gave New Front the largest number of seats but nevertheless left it four shy of the two-thirds Assembly majority it needed to amend the Constitution and choose the Government on its own. In the event, the newly elected legislature participated in selecting the President (Head of Government) and Vice-President of the Republic (Chairman of the Council of Ministers). These were, respectively, Mr. R.R. Venetiaan and Mr. G.-R. Ajodhia. The president was inaugurated on 16 September.

Round no 1 (25 May 1991): Elections results
Number of registered electors	246,929
Voters	170,000 (approx.)

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total	Gain/Loss
New Front for Democracy and Development	30	-10
National Democratic Party (NDP)	12	+9
Democratic Alternative ’91*	9	-