Suriname

How It Started

On Dec. 24, 1990, military officers forced the resignations of the president and vice president who had been duly elected in 1987. Five days later, the National Assembly approved replacements selected by the military. Under mounting international pressure, the government held new elections on May 25, 1991. As part of an OAS mission, representatives from The Carter Center monitored the election.

Our Work and Methods

The Center’s delegation represented the Council of Presidents and Prime Ministers of the Americas, an informal group of current and former leaders from throughout the Western Hemisphere who promote democracy and help find peaceful resolutions to conflicts in the region. Both the center and the council work directly with local officials, activists, and interested parties to ensure that all citizens can exercise their right to vote and that every vote counts.

• During the 1991 election, the observation team was well received by the people of Suriname as well as the political organizations.
• An independent audit conducted by the OAS mission concluded that there was no fraud in the tabulation of official results.

Impacts

Election monitoring helped ensure the reestablishment of a democratic, elected government in Suriname, instilling confidence not only in democracy, but also in the rule of law, respect for human rights, and civilian authority over the military.

This project ended in 1991.