<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> ratified 30 September 1987
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> NA
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> President Ronald R. VENETIAAN (since 16 September 1991); Vice President and Prime Minister Jules R. AJODHIA (since 16 September 1991); election last held 6 September 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results—elected by the National Assembly—Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), Hans PRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president from members of the National Assembly
<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant power
<item><hi format=bold>National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale):</hi> elections last held 25 May 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results —percent of vote NA; seats—(51 total) NF 30, NDP 10, DA '91 9, Independent 2
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> The New Front (NF), a coalition of four parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN; Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and Solidarity (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA) Fred DERBY; Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), Winston JESSURUN, a coalition of four parties (AF, HPP, Pendawa Lima, BEP) formed in January 1991; Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS, Winston JESSURUN; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Panalal PARMESSAR; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Marsha JAMIN; National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS, chairman;
<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> Surinamese Liberation Army (SLA), Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro" WALLY; Union for Liberation and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement, Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of mission:</hi> Ambassador Roger R. GAMBLE
<item>• <hi format=ital>embassy:</hi> Dr. Sophie Redmonstraat 129, Paramaribo
<item>• <hi format=ital>mailing address:</hi> P. O. Box 1821, Paramaribo
<item>• <hi format=ital>telephone:</hi> [597] 472900, 477881, or 476459
<item>• <hi format=ital>FAX:</hi> [597] 410025
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band