Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September
1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September
1996); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September
1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September
1996); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among
the members of the National Assembly
note: First Advisor of State maintains significant power
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate
receives a constitutional majority vote in the National Assembly
after two votes, by the larger People's Assembly (869
representatives from the national, local, and regional councils),
for five-year terms; election last held 23 May 1996; runoff election
held 5 September 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
election results: Jules WIJDENBOSCH elected president; percent of
legislative vote—NA; National Assembly failed to elect president;
results reflect votes cast by the People's Assembly—Jules
WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) received 438 votes, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) received
407 votes
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or National
Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 23 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NDP
16, NF 14, BVD 5, KTPI 5, Pertjaja Luhur 4, The Progressive
Development Alliance 3, DA '91 2, OPDA 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (justices nominated for life)
Political parties and leaders: The New Front or NF (a coalition
Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the AF and BEP,
Development Alliance (a combination of two parties, HPP and PVF)
Political pressure groups and leaders: Union for Liberation and
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arnold Theodoor HALFHIDE chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis K. HAYS embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo, Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390
Flag description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band