Suriname’s electoral authorities on Thursday finally announced preliminary results from the May 25 elections won by opposition parties, which on Friday accused the government of Desi Bouterse of stymieing efforts to seat a new legislature, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The results were released Thursday night just an hour before the government imposed sweeping limits on public activity to fight a flareup of COVID-19, AP said.
Four opposition parties have formed a coalition seeking to elect the next president in August, though they remain one vote short of the 34 needed for a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.
AP said that the parties issued a statement accusing the government of obstructionism, noting that delays in the vote counting process are pushing it toward the June 24 deadline set by law for seating the new legislature.
The United Reform Party swept past Bouterse’s National Democratic Party, winning 20 seats, up from nine, while the government party fell from 26 to 16.
The Reform Party’s chief, former police officer Chandrikapersad ‘Chan’ Santokhi, is expected to become the next president.
AP said that Bouterse has been largely invisible since Monday, though the leader of one of the opposition coalition parties said the president had contacted him in attempt to get him to switch sides.
Bouterse’s party also has demanded a recount in some areas.
