Surinamese legislative election, 2010

A legislative election was held in Suriname on 25 May 2010.

Nine parties contested the election. Pre-election polls suggested a share of 41% of the vote going to the "Mega Combination" coalition, that includes the National Democratic Party of former dictator Dési Bouterse. The ruling Nieuw Front (NF) had around 22.5% support. There were 324,490 people registered to vote in the election which would determine the holders of 51 parliament seats, 116 regional positions and 752 municipal positions.

Preliminary results issued on 26 May 2010 showed the Mega Combination winning a plurality of 23 seats of 51, up from 15 in the last election. The New Front for Democracy and Development alliance of incumbent President Ronald Venetiaan (who had stated before the election that he would not seek another term) was said to have won 14 seats. Venetiaan ruled out working together with the NDP as long as it was led by Bouterse. In the upcoming indirect presidential election in July 2010, a two-thirds majority will be required to elect the next president.Organisation of American States election observers reported a peaceful election with no irregulaties.

Bouterse has not stated if he will seek to return to the presidency. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has said that the Dutch government will respect the will of the voters of Suriname, despite Bouterse having been sentenced to 11 years in prison by a Dutch court for drug dealing. An Interpol arrest warrant has been issued for him, but Suriname does not extradite its citizens.

The NDP successfully concluded a coalition deal with Bouterse's former opponents in the civil war, the A Combinatie, giving him a majority in parliament, but not the two-thirds majority required to elect the president. Negotiations with the People's Alliance to attain the necessary supermajority reportedly failed after the People's Alliance raised excessive demands.

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