Progressive Reform Party (Suriname)
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Progressive Reform Party Vooruitstrevende Hervormings Partij (Dutch) वूरुइत्स्त्रेवेन्दे हेर्वोर्मिङ्स पर्तिज (Sarnami Hindustani) | |
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| Abbreviation | VHP |
| Chairman | Chan Santokhi |
| Founded | January 1949 |
| Merger of |
|
| Ideology | Social democracy Third Way Civic nationalism Progressivism[citation needed] Historical: Indo-Surinamese civil rights Javanese Surinamese civil rights Minority religious rights |
| Political position | Centre to centre-left |
| Seats in the National Assembly | 20 / 51 |
| Website | |
| vhp.sr | |
The Progressive Reform Party (Dutch: Vooruitstrevende Hervormings Partij, VHP; Sarnami Hindustani: वूरुइत्स्त्रेवेन्दे हेर्वोर्मिङ्स पर्तिज or प्रगतिशील सुधार दल, Pragatisheel Sudhaar Dal),[a] is a political party in Suriname. It was originally founded in January 1949 as a merger of three parties to represent the Indo-Surinamese community. The party occupies a position straddling the political centre[citation needed] and centre-left[citation needed], advocating for a combination of social-democratic[citation needed] and social-liberal[citation needed] policies under the Third Way[citation needed] philosophy. During the party's history it frequently allied itself with the National Party of Suriname (NPS) that historically represented the Afro-Surinamese community.
Chan Santokhi is the chairman of the party since 3 July 2011. The VHP is a multi-ethnic party and is primarily supported by Indo-Surinamese. Previous chairman Ram Sardjoe holds the title of honorary chairman. After the 2020 parliamentary elections, the Progressive Reform Party is the biggest political party in Suriname. Chan Santokhi became the new President of Suriname.[1]
The party has been part of seven government coalitions, in the periods of: 1958–1963 (five years), 1963–1967 (four years), 1969–1973 (four years), 1987–1991 (four years), 1991–1996 (five years), 2000–2005 (five years) and 2005–2010 (five years); a total of 32 years. In 2020, the party formed a coalition government with the General Liberation and Development Party led by Ronnie Brunswijk, the new Vice President of Suriname.[2]
Representation
[edit]1949
- S. Rambaran Mishre
- H.W. Mohamed Radja
- L.B. Sitalsing
- H. Shriemisier
- J. Lachmon
- S.M. Jamaludin
1951
- J. Lachmon
- H.S. Radakushun
- H.F. Sewberath Misser
- J.S. Mungra
- K. Kanhai
- R.D. Oedayrajsing Varma
1955
- J. Lachmon
- H.S. Radakushun
- H.F. Sewberath Misser
- J.S. Mungra
- K. Kanhai
- R.D. Oedayrajsing Varma
1958
- J. Lachmon
- H. Mungra
- H.S. Radakushun
- M. Ramdjan
1963
- J.H. Adhin
- J. Lachmon
- B. Laigsingh
- L. Mungra
- R.M. Nannan Panday
- D. Sathoe
- H. Shriemisier
Electoral results
[edit]| Election | No. of
overall seats won |
Votes | +/– | Rank | Government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 6 / 21
|
 6
|
2nd | Opposition | ||
| 1951 | 6 / 21
|
 0
|
2nd | Opposition | ||
| 1955 | 6 / 21
|
0
|
2nd | Opposition | ||
| 1958 | 4 / 21
|
 2
|
2nd | Coalition | ||
| 1963 | 8 / 36
|
4
|
2nd | Coalition | ||
| 1967 | 11 / 39
|
3
|
2nd | Opposition | ||
| 1969 | 19 / 39
|
6
|
1st | Coalition | ||
| 1973 | 16 / 39
|
1
|
2nd | Opposition | ||
| 1977 | 13 / 39
|
3
|
2nd | Opposition | ||
| 1987 | 14 / 51
|
1
|
2nd | Coalition | ||
| 1991 | 8 / 51
|
5
|
2nd | Coalition | ||
| 1996 | 9 / 51 4 / 51 (*after BVD defection)
|
1
|
3rd | Opposition | ||
| 2000 | 8 / 51
|
1
|
2nd | Coalition | ||
| 2005 | 7 / 51
|
1
|
2nd | Coalition | ||
| 2010 | 8 / 51
|
1
|
2nd | Paramaribo: 2 (of 17) Wanica: 3 (of 7) Nickerie: 1 (of 5) Commewijne: 1 (of 4) Saramacca: 1 (of 3) |
Opposition | |
| 2015 | 9 / 51
|
55,276 | 1
|
2nd | Paramaribo: 2 (of 17) 0 Wanica: 3 (of 7) 0Nickerie: 2 (of 5) 1Commewijne: 1 (of 4) 0Saramacca: 1 (of 3) 0
|
Opposition |
| 2020 | 20 / 51
|
108,378 | 11
|
1st | Paramaribo: 7 (of 17) 5 Wanica: 5 (of 7) 2Nickerie: 4 (of 5) 2Commewijne: 2 (of 4) 1Saramacca: 2 (of 3) 1
|
Coalition |
Chairmen
[edit]The party has had four chairmen since its founding:[3]
- 16 January 1949 – 18 October 2001: Jagernath Lachmon[4]
- 19 October 2001 – 23 December 2001: Jnan Adhin
- 23 December 2001 – 3 July 2011: Ramdien Sardjoe
- 3 July 2011 – present: Chan Santokhi
Notes
[edit]- ^ formerly known as the United Hindustani Party (Dutch: Verenigde Hindoestaanse Partij; Sarnami Hindustani: संयुक्त हिंदुस्तानी पार्टी, Samyukt Hindustani Party; 1949–August 1966) and the Vatan Hitkari Party (English: Party for the Promotion of National Welfare; Dutch: Partij ter Bevordering van het Nationale Welzijn, Sarnami Hindustani: वतन हितकारी पार्टी, Vatan Hitkari Party; August 1966 – 1973)
References
[edit]- ^ "Suriname election: Convicted murderer Dési Bouterse is replaced by ex-police chief". BBC News. 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Suriname election: Convicted murderer Dési Bouterse is replaced by ex-police chief". BBC News. 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Voorzitters van de VHP" (PDF). Ramdien Sardjoe. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ "Familie Lachmon plaatst bloemstuk bij standbeeld". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 June 2020.
External links
[edit]
| International | |
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| National | |
