Suriname election: Convicted murderer Dési Bouterse is replaced by ex-police chief

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – The National Assembly of Suriname has elected Chan Santokhi as the South American country’s new president.

The move comes after Mr Santokhi’s party won the largest share of votes in legislative elections in May.

Mr Santokhi, a former police chief, will replace outgoing president Dési Bouterse, who was found guilty of murder in 2019.

The two men are bitter rivals as it was Mr Santokhi’s investigation which led to Bouterse’s conviction.

Bouterse is currently appealing against the verdict.

Who is Chan Santokhi?

Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi, who is 61, leads the Progressive Reform Party.

Born in Suriname, which is a former Dutch colony, he studied at the police academy in the Netherlands. After his return to Suriname, he became a police inspector and in 1991 was named chief of police.

From 2005 to 2010 he served as minister of justice. He ran for the presidency in 2010 but lost to Bouterse.

Bouterse was re-elected to a second term in 2015 and was confident of winning a third consecutive term in elections in May but it was Mr Santokhi’s party which emerged victorious.

The Progressive Reform Party won 20 of the 51 seats in the National Assembly, enough to form a coalition government with the General Liberation and Development Party. The latter is led by Ronnie Brunswijk, who will serve as vice-president.