❎New polling shows Santokhi's VHP as the largest party, followed by the NDP and the NPS.

This week, we cover new polling that has come out before the election on May 25, 2025, union negotiations between the government and unions, and a celebration for Sports and Development in the country.

Polling has emerged showing the biggest party in Suriname remains the governing VHP (The Progressive Reform Party). However, the NDP (The National Democratic Party) and NPS (The National Party of Suriname) closely follow them as the elections get closer.

• VHP remains the largest party in Suriname according to the latest 2025 polls, followed by the NDP in second place and the NPS, which has risen to third place. The NPS has risen above other parties to gain ground on the two leading parties.

• The changes in the electoral system, from district-based to nationwide proportional representation, have caused the VHP and ABOP to lose seats, even though they both still hold stable voter support.

• According to polling, the seat distribution is forecasted as such:

  • VHP: 17 seats

  • NDP: 14 seats

  • NPS: 10 seats (significant growth compared to previous polls)

  • ABOP: 4 seats

• The public has been dissatisfied with the governance of the Santokhi/Brunswijk government: Only 9% are satisfied with the Santokhi/Brunswijk government; 56% are dissatisfied, with a majority saying the situation worsened over the past five years.

  The public has differences when it comes to presidential preferences:

  • President Chan Santokhi (VHP) leads with 26% support

  • Jennifer Simons (NDP) follows with 22%

  • Ashwin Adhin (NDP) at 10%, and Gregory Rusland (NPS) at 9%

• The top priority for the voters is economic recovery (37%), which is also followed by healthcare (21%), and the anti-corruption efforts (17%) Economic recovery is the top priority for voters (37%), followed by healthcare (21%), and anti-corruption efforts (17%).

• As Oil and Gas revenue is expected to come from 2028, there are differing opinions on what should be done with the revenue:

  • 30% favor investing it in a sovereign wealth fund

  • 31% prefer using it for state expenses

  • 33% want it distributed among the population.

The unions are pushing for negotiations before the election takes over the country.

• Ravaksur Plus, Council of Trade Union Federations in Suriname, has sent a letter to President Santokhi expressing concern over delays in wage and tax adjustment negotiations.

• Their list of demands was submitted on March 24, 2025, and rejected after meetings on April 5 and 9.

• An urgent meeting with the president on April 12 led to important agreements and plans for a follow-up session.

• The follow-up meeting scheduled for April 24 was canceled and postponed to May 8, causing disappointment. Ravaksur Plus finds the repeated delays unacceptable.

• The union is pushing for negotiations to conclude with a final agreement before May 10, 2025.

There was a special decoration Ceremony for the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

• A special decoration ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace to celebrate Suriname’s 50th anniversary and the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

• The event aimed to highlight the social importance of sports in uniting and developing the nation.

• The ceremony was postponed to allow Anthony Nesty, Suriname’s "Olympic Golden Boy," to attend in person.

• Athletes who contributed voluntarily to Suriname’s sports development over many years were honored.

• The event coincided with April 6, the globally recognized International Day of Sport, established by the UN and IOC.

• Sports were praised for breaking cultural, racial, and language barriers, and for boosting physical, mental, and social resilience.

• Several athletes from different disciplines were officially awarded honors after nominations were reviewed by the decoration committee.

The Agricultural Industry in Suriname has received massive support to strengthen infrastructure from the EU, and implemented by the FAO.

• The SAMAP (Suriname Agriculture Market Access Project) officially concluded with the launch of Suriname’s first cassava porridge processing line at agro-company Marthiland.

• Funded by the EU and implemented by the FAO, the project aimed to strengthen Suriname’s agricultural infrastructure and market access.

• Over 200 farmers and agro-companies received support, with 14,000+ pieces of equipment and services delivered across all districts.

• The cassava processing line is a collaboration between Marthiland and Jack Lie A Fat Agrobedrijf, involving 20 cassava outgrowers.

• EU Ambassador René van Nes and FAO representative Gillian Smith highlighted the project’s impact on jobs, innovation, health, and resilience.

• Minister Parmanand Sewdien praised the project as an example of how policy, international support, and entrepreneurship can reinforce each other.

• SAMAP leaves a lasting contribution to Suriname’s agriculture by promoting safer, competitive production methods and improving market positioning.