Suriname president bets general elections will keep his party in power for another 5 years
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - In this Sept. 2, 2010 file photo, Suriname's President Desi Bouterse speaks with journalists at the presidential cabinet office in Paramaribo, Suriname. Bouterse is betting that the Monday, May 25, 2015 election to choose the South American country’s next Parliament will keep him and his party in power for another five years. (AP Photo/Edward Troon, File) (The Associated Press)
Suriname's President Desi Bouterse is betting that elections to choose the South American country's next Parliament will keep him and his party in power for another five years.
Most recent polls conducted in Suriname give a comfortable majority to Bouterse's party. The 69-year-old was dictator of Suriname twice after leading coups, but was elected democratically to his current term.
Bouterse promises a landslide victory in Monday's election. His National Democratic Party needs a two-thirds majority of 34 seats in Parliament for him to be automatically re-elected as party leader without forging a coalition.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Results are expected Tuesday.
Bouterse's biggest rival is Chan Santokhi, a former minister of justice who leads a new opposition coalition.
There are 353,000 registered voters in the country of roughly 550,000 people.