Jennifer Geerlings-Simons Elected Suriname's First Female President Amid Economic Turmoil

Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, center, greets people in Paramaribo, Suriname, Sunday, July 6, 2025, after parliament appointed her as the country's first female president.

Suriname's National Assembly on Sunday elected Jennifer Geerlings-Simons as the country’s first female president, marking a historic moment for the Dutch-speaking South American nation. A veteran legislator and physician, Geerlings-Simons ran unopposed after her party, the National Democratic Party, formed a post-election coalition aimed at removing incumbent President Chandrikapersad Santokhi following a deadlocked May election.

Her election comes at a pivotal time for the nation of over 646,000 people, which is grappling with economic hardship even as it anticipates a financial windfall from newly discovered offshore oil reserves. The first phase of oil production is expected to begin by 2028, offering hope for long-term economic recovery.

Geerlings-Simons will be sworn in as president on July 16. At 71, she assumes leadership of a country still reeling from years of austerity, high debt, and social unrest. “I am aware that the heavy task I have taken on is further aggravated by the fact that I am the first woman to serve the country in this position,” she said in her first remarks after the vote.

Her rise to the presidency follows a turbulent five-year term under Santokhi, whose administration was marred by corruption scandals and economic mismanagement. Although macroeconomic indicators improved under his leadership—thanks in part to debt restructuring agreements with the International Monetary Fund—government subsidy cuts triggered widespread protests, and public trust in leadership eroded.

Geerlings-Simons and her vice president-elect, Gregory Rusland, have pledged to prioritize fiscal stability and improve revenue generation. She has previously outlined plans to expand tax enforcement, particularly within the informal small-scale gold-mining sector, to increase state income.

Economists warn that the new administration will face immense challenges in the years leading up to oil production. According to Winston Ramautarsingh, former chairman of Suriname's Association of Economists, the country must repay roughly $400 million annually in debt service, a burden that cannot be met with current revenue levels. “Suriname does not have that money,” he said. “The previous government rescheduled the debts, but that was only a postponement.”

As Geerlings-Simons prepares to take office, she must navigate a delicate balance between maintaining economic discipline, restoring public confidence, and preparing the country for its anticipated transformation into a regional energy player.