2010 Surinamese presidential election

2010 Surinamese presidential election

July 19, 2010
 
Nominee Dési Bouterse Chan Santokhi
Party National Democratic Party NFDO
Electoral vote 36 16
Percentage 69.23% 30.77%

President before election

Ronald Venetiaan
NPS

Elected President

Dési Bouterse
National Democratic Party

An indirect presidential election was held in Suriname on 19 July 2010 following the legislative election. If the National Assembly of Suriname twice failed to elect a new president with a two-thirds majority, the election would go to the People's Assembly of Suriname, composed of members of parliament, district and provincial councils, where a simple majority would have sufficed.

A first vote was expected on 8 July 2010, but only procedural issues were discussed at the meeting; the election was set for 19 July 2010 on the following day.

Shortly before the election, former dictator Dési Bouterse succeeded in establishing a coalition with the A Combinatie and the People's Alliance, giving him the votes required for the presidential election. As expected, he gained 36 votes against Chan Santokhi's 13 votes; he was sworn in on 12 August 2010.