Republic of Suriname / República de Suriname     1996 Presidential Elections     1996 Elecciones Presidenciales

Elections of May 23, 1996 were for the National Assembly (51 seats).

Party	Total Votes	Vote	Seats 1996	Seats 1991	Seats 1987
NF	72,480	41.8	24	30	40
NDP	45,466	26.2	16	12	3
DA '91	22,548	13.0	4	9	n/a
Pendawalima	16,040	9.2	4	2*	4
ALLIANTIE	14,578	8.4	3	n/a	n/a
ABOP	2,360	1.4	0	n/a	n/a
Totals:	173,472	100.0	51	51	47

*These two seats were a part of the DA'91 nine seats, since DA'91 was a four party coalition including the Pendawalima representatives.

Since no coalition/party got two-thirds majority (the President/Vice-President are elected indirectly), the President and Vice-President were elected by the United People's Assembly (the National Assembly plus District and Local Councils) on September 5, 1996. Jules Wijdensobsch, former Prime Minister during military dictator Desi Bouterse's government, was elected president on September 5, 1996 by an assembly of parliamentary representatives, community and district councils called the United People's Conference. The 869 local, district, and nationally elected officials included 51 parliamentarians, 106 district representatives, and 712 local officials. the breakdown of the vote was as follows:

Wijdenbosch	438
Venetiaan	407
No-shows	22
Blank Ballots	2