Capital:
Paramaribo

Administrative divisions:
10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo,
Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo,
Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Independence:
25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Constitution:
ratified 30 September 1987

Legal system:
based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August
2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12 August
2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12
August 2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12
August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among
the members of the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate
receives a a two-thirds constitutional majority in the National
Assembly after two votes, by a simple majority in the larger
People's United Assembly (869 representatives from the national,
local, and regional councils), for five-year terms; election last
held 25 May 2005 (next to be held 25 May 2010)

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 May 2005 (next to be held May 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NF 41.2%, NDP 23.1%,
VVV 14.5%, A-Com 7.3%, A1 6.2%, other 5.9%; seats by party - NF 23,
NDP 15, VVV 5, A-Com 5, A1 3

Judicial branch:
Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court
(justices are nominated for life)

Political parties and leaders:
A-Combinatie (coalition of Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP
[Caprino ALENDY], General Interior Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie
BRUNSWIJK], Progressive Laborers and Farmers Union or PALU [Jim
HOK], Seeka [Paul ABENA]); Alternative-1 or A-1 (a coalition of
Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91 [Winston JESSURUN], Democrats
of the 21st Century or D-21 [Soewarto MOESTADJA], Nieuw Suriname or