GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE                  

General Organization of the Government

The Republic of Suriname is a constitutional democracy. The legislative powers of the state are attributed to the National Assembly of Suriname. This Parliament consists of 51 members, elected by popular vote for a period of five years.

The executive powers are vested in the President of the Republic, who is elected by the National Assembly for a period of five years by two-third majority of votes or by common majority of votes in the United People's Assembly. This latter body is composed of all national, regional and municipal representatives of the population, elected by popular vote. The Vice President of the Republic, who also chairs the Council of Ministers, is elected in the same way as the President.

A State Advisory Council consisting of 14 members advises the President in the conduct of policies. Eleven of the 14 seats are allotted to a proportional representatives of all political parties represented in the National Assembly. The Workers’ and Employers’ Organizations are represented in the State advisory Council with respectively two and one representative.

Justice is exercised by an independent Court of Justice, of which the members are appointed for life by the President, in consultation with the National Assembly, the State Advisory Council and the National Order of Private Attorneys. The highest executive and administrative power is exercised by a Council of 17 Ministers, representing an equal number of ministries, appointed by the President, who is head of the Government.

Head of government: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000); Vice President Ramdien SARDJOE (since 3 August 2005)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers are appointed by the President .
Elections:  The President and Vice President are elected by the National Assembly or, if no Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate receives a two-thirds constitutional majority in the National Assembly after two votes, they are  elected by a simple majority in the larger United People's Assembly (893 representatives from the national, local, and regional councils), for a five-year term ( there are no term limits); election last held on 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010) .
Election results: Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN re-elected as President; percent of vote - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN 62.9%, Rabin PARMESSAR 35.4%, other 1.7%; note - after two votes in Parliament  a two-thirds majority for a candidate was not attained; the vote then went to a special session of the United People's Assembly on 3 August 2005.

LIST OF CABINET MEMBERS IN THE CABINET VENETIAAN- SARDJOE

Last Updated : October 2007