Jennifer Geerlings-Simons
Jennifer Geerlings-Simons | |
|---|---|
Geerlings-Simons in 2015 | |
| President-elect of Suriname | |
| Assuming office 16 July 2025 | |
| Vice President | Gregory Rusland (elect) |
| Succeeding | Chan Santokhi |
| Leader of the National Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office 13 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Dési Bouterse |
| Chairperson of the National Assembly of Suriname | |
| In office 30 June 2010 – 28 June 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Somohardjo |
| Succeeded by | Ronnie Brunswijk |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 1996–2020 | |
| Constituency | Paramaribo District |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jennifer Simons 5 September 1953 Paramaribo, Suriname |
| Political party | National Democratic Party |
| Spouse |
Glenn Geerlings (m. 1981) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Paramaribo |
| Alma mater | Anton de Kom University of Suriname (Drs.) |
Jennifer Geerlings-Simons (née Simons; born 5 September 1953[1]) is a Surinamese physician and politician who is the president-elect of Suriname.[2] She served as Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Suriname between 2010 and 2020, becoming the second female chairman of the Surinamese Parliament.[3] In 2024, she became the leader of the National Democratic Party.[4] After her party won a narrow victory in the 2025 general election, she was elected President on 6 July 2025.[5] She is due to become the first female president in the nation's history.
Biography
Simons was first elected as a member of the National Assembly in 1996, representing the district of Paramaribo. She served as one of the vice-chairpersons of the National Democratic Party, which was founded by Dési Bouterse. She was leader of the parliamentary fraction from 2000 until 2006.
In April 2012, Simons was accused by the opposition in the parliament of dictatorial behaviour because of her decision to forbid members of the parliament from referring to the amnesty law of April 2012 during a debate on the anti-stalking law.[6]
On 8 April 2020, the Law Exceptional Condition COVID-19 (State of Emergency) had been approved by the National Assembly in order to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.[7] The State of Emergency will go into effect for three months unless the National Assembly one-off extends the duration for another three months.[8] Simons was appointed to lead the Parliamentary COVID-19 Crisis Management Team.[9]
On 20 June 2020, Simons announced her retirement from politics. She had been elected in the 2020 Surinamese general election, but has decided not to take her seat. Stephen Tsang who was on 6th place on the NDP list, is now eligible for the National Assembly.[10]
On 13 July 2024, she succeeded Dési Bouterse as the leader of the National Democratic Party.[4] The following year, she led the NDP to first place in the general election. The NDP hammered out a coalition agreement with five other parties to support Geerlings-Simons for president. Between them, the coalition has 34 seats, exactly the two-thirds supermajority needed to make her Suriname's first female president without the support of other parties.[11] On 3 July, the Progressive Reform Party, which led the governing coalition, said it would not put forward a candidate against Geerlings-Simons. No one else lodged a candidacy by the deadline, assuring Geerlings-Simons' election.[11] She was elected unopposed as president on 6 July with NPS leader Gregory Rusland as vice president.[2]
Personal life
In 1981, Simons married Glenn Geerlings. They have 3 children.
Geerlings-Simons is a medical doctor.[12] She earned her medical degree from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Faculty of Medicine.[1]
References
- ^ a b "H.E. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons". Global Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ a b Kuipers, Ank (6 July 2025). "Suriname parliament elects Simons as first female president". Reuters. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ "Geerlings-Simons herkozen als voorzitter met 1 stem uit oppositie" (in Dutch). De Surinaamse Krant. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ a b "Jennifer Simons gekozen tot nieuwe voorzitter NDP". Waterkant.net (in Dutch). 14 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "DNA kiest Simons tot president en Rusland tot vp" (in Dutch). 6 July 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- ^ "Nieuw Front in het geweer tegen dictatuur in Suriname". Waterkant.Net. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "Law Exceptional Condition Covid 19 has been approved (in Dutch)". Suriname Herald. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ "Law Exceptional Condition (pdf in Dutch)" (PDF). Foundation for Law in Suriname (SRiS). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ "Wet uitzonderings toestand na heftige debatten en marathon vergadering goedgekeurd in DNA" [State of emergency law approved in DNA after heated debates and marathon meeting]. United News (in Dutch). 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ "Jennifer Simons neemt na 24 jaar afscheid van DNA". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). 21 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Geerlings-Simons set to be Suriname's first woman president". France 24. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ^ Zuber, David (29 June 2025). "Jennifer Geerlings-Simons (1953- )". BlackPast.org. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
External links
Media related to Jennifer Geerlings-Simons at Wikimedia Commons