Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
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PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Opposition parties in Suriname protested Friday against alleged irregularities in the general elections held on Wednesday, May 25. They are reportedly worried about the fact that, in polling districts where counting of ballots was already finished, the preliminary results were not made public.
Some one thousand supporters of three parties, NDP, VVV and A1-combination, held a demonstration Friday afternoon at the Main Election Office (CHS) and pressed for some clarity from the authorities.
According to party officials, serious irregularities were registered on election day and by sounding the alarm they want to prevent possible fraud. CHS-chairman Lothar Boksteen told reporters he has no indication whatsoever that the outgoing coalition is trying to commit fraud with the results of the elections.
Outgoing New Front coalition of President Ronald Venetiaan secured 24 seats in parliament, down 9 from the previously held 33 seats, NDP won 15 seats, VVV got 5, newcomer A-Combination secured 5 seats and the A1-combination won 2. Boksteen noted that also he is not pleased about the slowness of the process but so far there is no need to worry.
According to VVV leader former president Jules Wijdenbosch there were too many serious issues that could taint the elections. The former president warned government two years ago to do its utmost in organizing the election.
In an interview with Caribbean Net News, he said, the elections were organized by ‘amateurs’. “The number of seats is not important at the moment,” he stated, “But the name that Suriname has in regard with organizing free and fair elections.” The VVV has submitted a request to the Independent Electoral Bureau (OKB), which oversees the elections, to investigate their complaints.
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