nt Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September
1996); 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
note: Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant
power
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 23 May 1996; runoff
election held 5 September 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
election results: Jules WIJDENBOSCH elected president; percent of
legislative vote NA; National Assembly failed to elect president;
results reflect the People's Assembly votes - Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP)
438, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 407

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections : last held 23 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP
16, NF 14, BVD 5, KTPI 5, DA'91 4, Pendawa Lima 4, Alliance 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices nominated for life

Political parties and leaders: The New Front (NF), a coalition of
three parties (NPS, VHP, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN; Progressive
Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname
(NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and Solidarity
(KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA), Fred DERBY;
Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), a coalition of two parties (AF,
and BEP) formed in January 1991, Winston JESSURUN; Alternative Forum
(AF), Rick VAN RAVENSWAY; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics
(BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Paul SOMOHARDJO; National
Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm
Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS; The Progressive Development
Alliance, a combination of three parties (DP, HPP, PVF), Frank
PLAYFAIR; Democratic Party (DP), Frank PLAYFAIR; Reformed Progressive
Party (HPP), Harry KISOENSINGH; Party of the Federation of Land
Workers PVF), Jwan SITAL; Party for Renewal and Democracy (BVD), Atta
MUNGRA; Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative (OPDA),
Joginder RAMKHILAWAN

Political pressure groups and leaders: Union for Liberation and
Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement,
Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO;
General Liberation and Deve