PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC—Vice President Ronnie Brunswick says the General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) has only one candidate for the Ministry of Home Affairs following Bronto Somohardjo’s resignation last month.
But while he insists that the party will be allowed to name the person to the position, the Pertjaah Luhur (PL), led by Paul Somohardjo, has made it clear that if the ABOP fills the vacant position, the PL will leave the coalition government of President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi. The PL has sent a list of 28 candidates to Santokhi.
Somohardjo quit the government saying that he will be forgiven when the investigation into his ministry is completed.
The Central Auditing Bureau (CLAD) is investigating alleged corrupt acts at the ministry, but Somohardjo said he is confident it will “completely exonerate him from any error.”
Somohardjo, who is the PL’s first vice-chairman, said on his resignation that President Santokhi had “promised us, that by the written agreement, the Pertjajah Luhur will nominate the next Minister of the Interior,” adding, “I don’t think the president will break his word.”
The PL Council has since said it will contest the May 25 general election next year as an independent body and that the successor to Somohardjo as Minister of Home Affairs will be announced soon.
But Brunswijk said he is awaiting instructions from President Santokhi to nominate the person and that according to the agreement, the PL would fill the position for one year and the ABOP for the rest of the term of office.
Media reports say that a rift between the coalition partners led to Somohardjo’s resignation and that senior ministry members also resigned.
But speaking following an event on Thursday, Brunswijk said during the formation of the government, “We made an explicit agreement that Mr. Somohardjo would go there for a year.
“Theagreeds that (he) would go for a year and retire and take over ABOP. But now that the position has become available, the Minister of the Interior has declined, which means we will continue by the agreement.” He said ABOP will nominate one candidate.
“I’m not going to name any names yet. That’s the party’s way. We’re not there yet. I won’t nominate a candidate, and the president won’t accept it. We’re working on it. The president is leaving tomorrow. And when he comes back and says, “Submit candidate,” we will do that.”
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