Electoral Observation Missions from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have called on the electoral management body of Suriname to swiftly end the tabulation of votes cast in the May 25 Elections.
In a statement issued yesterday the CARICOM mission noted that “up to this point in time “ the country has successfully staged a free, fair, transparent, and credible Election but called on those engaged in completing the few outstanding tabulations of votes to commit themselves to concluding the process efficiently and speedily.
Similarly the OAS/EOM on Sunday commended the peacefulness and calm demonstrated by the citizenry of Suriname and the tireless effort of the electoral workers involved in the different phases of the process but stressed that “it is time to finish the election as quickly and transparently as possible.”
The mission stressed that while the unofficial preliminary count reached 99.4% of the Statements of Poll on Friday, May 29, and had remained at that point for two days. Up to press time last evening the Paramaribo Constituency has not yet been declared.
“[On] May 31, 2020, OAS observers were present at the Main Polling Station for Paramaribo, and noted that activities were suspended for the day,” the state adding that as it is now one week after the May 25 poll the mission suggests it is time to finish the election as quickly and transparently as possible, taking into consideration the necessary sanitary measures for Covid-19 prevention.
The mission was also keen to note that while electoral reform passed prior to the elections prevented political parties from forming traditional pre-electoral coalitions four of the parties competing in the elections have already agreed to collaborate, and announced an agreement on May 30. This is important as no single political party has achieved the two-thirds parliamentary majority needed to elect the President.
The electoral laws of the country prescribe that the President and Vice President are to be elected via a two thirds majority of the 51-seat National Assembly or a simple majority of the People’s Assembly which has in excess of 900 members.
Based on the preliminary results President Desi Bouterse’s party has lost and been reduced to 16 seats from the 26 they held previously. The largest number of seats seem to be held by the VHP led by Chan Santokhi; his party now has 20 seats, up from the nine it previously held. However as part of the announced coalition Santokhi now has access to 33 seats, one short of the necessary 34.
Bouterse has so far called for a recount of the Paramaribo Constituency but according to Santokhi this action is not warranted.
“Some strange things have happened here and there, but they cannot be a reason to start counting again,” De Ware Tijd quotes the politicians as stating.
This position appears to be support by the findings of both EOMs.
“Despite some interruptions and a slow pace, at times, in consolidating these results, the Mission has not observed changes in trends or serious irregularities that could significantly affect the results of the process,” the OAS/EOM explains.
CARICOM too explained that in spite of some administrative and logistical glitches and some COVID-19 related delays they saw and experienced no evidence of fraud in the Elections.
“The CEOM made it a point of duty to meet with and to listen carefully to virtually all of the entities that were involved in the Electoral process, and in particular, to the many Opposition political parties, the Anti-Fraud Platform, the group of local election observers drawn from the Private Sector, and the Inter Religious Council of Suriname. The members of the CEOM took very careful note of the concerns and reservations that were expressed – inclusive of concerns pertaining to possible electoral fraud –carefully scrutinize[d] the Electoral process for any evidence that would substantiate such concerns and reservations,” they explained .
Consequently the team which leaves Suriname today determined not only that the elections were free, fair, transparent, and credible but that Suriname’s Electoral system is fundamentally sound, with many checks and balances built into the system.
The mission stated that it was impressed with the transparency of the Electoral system, and the fact that at every stage of the process, representatives of the political parties are permitted to be present to scrutinize the proceedings.
The CEOM, further congratulated the people of Suriname for the manner in which they conducted themselves in expressing their democratic rights, especially in a very challenging COVID-19 environment.
