Progressive Reform Party (Suriname)

Progressive Reform Party

*Vooruitstrevende Hervormings Partij* (Dutch)
वूरुइत्स्त्रेवेन्दे हेर्वोर्मिङ्स पर्तिज (Sarnami Hindustani)
Progressive Reform Party Vooruitstrevende Hervormings Partij (Dutch); वूरुइत्स्त्रेवेन्दे हेर्वोर्मिङ्स पर्तिज (Sarnami Hindustani)
Abbreviation	VHP
Chairman	Chan Santokhi
Founded	January 1949
Merger of	Muslim Party; Hindostaans-Javaanse Political Party; Surinamese Hindu Party; ;
Ideology	Social democracy; Third Way; Civic nationalism ; Labourism; Progressivism; Reformism; Historical:; Indo-Surinamese civil rights; Hindu and Muslim religious rights
Political position	Centre to centre-left
Seats in the National Assembly	20 / 51
Website
	http://www.vhp.sr/
	Politics of Suriname; Political parties; Elections;

The Progressive Reform Party (Template:Lang-nl, 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 and centre-left, advocating for a combination of social-democratic and social-liberal policies under the Third Way 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 (5 years), 1963–1967 (4 years), 1969–1973 (4 years), 1987–1991 (4 years), 1991–1996 (5 years), 2000–2005 (5 years) and 2005–2010 (5 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

1949

1951

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

Election	No. of overall seats won	+/–	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	9 / 51	5	2nd		Coalition
1996	9 / 51 4 / 51 (*after BVD defection)	0	3rd		Opposition
2000	10 / 51	1	2nd		Coalition
2005	7 / 51	3	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	1	2nd	Paramaribo: 2 (of 17) 0 Wanica: 3 (of 7) 0 Nickerie: 2 (of 5) 1 Commewijne: 1 (of 4) 0 Saramacca: 1 (of 3) 0	Opposition
2020	20 / 51	11	1st	Paramaribo: 7 (of 17) 5 Wanica: 5 (of 7) 2 Nickerie: 4 (of 5) 2 Commewijne: 2 (of 4) 1 Saramacca: 2 (of 3) 1	Coalition

Chairmen

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 [nl]
23 December 2001 – 3 July 2011: Ramdien Sardjoe
3 July 2011 – present: Chan Santokhi

Notes

^ formerly known as the United Hindustani Party (Template:Lang-nl; Sarnami Hindustani: संयुक्त हिंदुस्तानी पार्टी, Samyukt Hindustani Party; 1949–August 1966) and the Vatan Hitkari Party (English: Party for the Promotion of National Welfare; Template:Lang-nl, Sarnami Hindustani: वतन हितकारी पार्टी, Vatan Hitkari Party; August 1966 – 1973)

References

^ "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

[1] rmerly known as the United Hindustani Party (Template:Lang-nl; Sarnami Hindustani: संयुक्त हिंदुस्तानी पार्टी, Samyukt Hindustani Party; 1949–August 1966) and the Vatan Hitkari Party (English: Party for the Promotion of National Welfare; Template:Lang-nl, Sarnami Hindustani: वतन हितकारी पार्टी, Vatan Hitkari Party; August 1966 – 1973)

[2] "Suriname election: Convicted murderer Dési Bouterse is replaced by ex-police chief". BBC News. 14 July 2020.

[3] "Suriname election: Convicted murderer Dési Bouterse is replaced by ex-police chief". BBC News. 14 July 2020.

[4] "Voorzitters van de VHP" (PDF). Ramdien Sardjoe. Retrieved 26 July 2020.

[bloem-5] "Familie Lachmon plaatst bloemstuk bij standbeeld". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 June 2020.

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[4]

v t e Political parties in Suriname
Parliamentary	Progressive Reform Party National Democratic Party General Liberation and Development Party National Party Pertjajah Luhur Brotherhood and Unity in Politics
Extraparliamentary	Basic Party for Renewal and Democracy Democracy and Development through Unity Democratic Alternative '91 Democratic National Platform 2000 Democrats of the 21st Century Meeting Point 2000 Party for National Unity and Solidarity Political Wing of the FAL Progressive Workers' and Farmers' Union Seeka Surinamese Labour Party Union of Progressive Surinamese
Portal:Politics List of political parties Politics of Suriname

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