Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARAMARIBO93
2006-02-15 20:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Paramaribo
Cable title:  

PRESIDENT VENETIAAN'S GOVERNMENT FACING LOW

Tags:  PGOV PREL KCRM NS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8763
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0093/01 0462053
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 152053Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8067
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 0958
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000093 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR - LLUFTIG

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM NS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT VENETIAAN'S GOVERNMENT FACING LOW
APPROVAL RATINGS

REF: (A) PARAMARIBO 038 (B) 05 PARAMARIBO 589 (C) 05

PARAMARIBO 607 (D) PARAMARIBO 90

PARAMARIBO 00000093 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000093

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR - LLUFTIG

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM NS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT VENETIAAN'S GOVERNMENT FACING LOW
APPROVAL RATINGS

REF: (A) PARAMARIBO 038 (B) 05 PARAMARIBO 589 (C) 05

PARAMARIBO 607 (D) PARAMARIBO 90

PARAMARIBO 00000093 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) SUMMARY: More than 100 days into his second
consecutive term, approval ratings for President Venetiaan
and his New Front plus coalition are down, with 64% of
respondents disapproving of the government's performance,
according to a recent public opinion poll. Former military
dictator and convicted narcotics trafficker Desi Bouterse's
opposition National Democratic Party (NDP),which is the
largest single political party, has gained popular support.
Strife within the coalition, an aggressive opposition, and
corruption scandals have all contributed to the
government's woes. End Summary.


2. (U) The poll was conducted by IDOS, a respected
independent polling group affiliated with Suriname's
university, from January 4-6 among 504 people in Paramaribo
where roughly half of Suriname's 492,829 inhabitants live.
It revealed a Surinamese public decidedly dissatisfied with
its leaders. The largest complaint, expressed by 78 percent
of respondents, was that government policy lacks clarity.
Only 14 percent of those polled claimed to be satisfied
with the government's performance, while 62 percent
indicated they were dissatisfied. Twenty-four percent were
indifferent. Seventy percent of the respondents claimed to
have no confidence in the President or his cabinet.


3. (U) The poll showed mounting criticism from the
governing coalition's own supporters. Eighteen percent of
those who voted for the New Front in the 2005 elections,
would vote for a different political party, if given the
opportunity to vote today; more than nine percent of these
voters said Bouterse's NDP would be their new choice.
Twenty percent of respondents who voted for New Front in
May 2005 elections would choose not to vote at all.


4. (U) If elections were held today, 32 percent of
respondents would vote for the NDP; 21 percent for the New
Front; 10 percent for former President Wijdenbosch's VVV
coalition; and 4 percent for the all-Maroon A-Combination,
which is part of the New Front Plus. Ten percent would
vote for various other parties with 23 percent saying they
would not vote at all. (Note: The next elections are
scheduled for 2010. End Note.)


5. (U) The survey also showed significant public
displeasure in the government's domestic economic policies;
63 percent complained that their own economic situation had
gotten worse compared to six months before; 64 percent of
those who saw their situation worsen see their situation
worsening even more over the coming six months. Only four
percent said their economic situation was better than six
months ago, while 33 percent said it was the same.


6. (U) In other results of note, 85 percent of respondents
disagreed with parliamentarian Sharmila Mangal-Mansaram's
assessment that convicted narcotics trafficker and A-
Combination National Assembly member Ronnie Brunswijk
qualifies as a "freedom fighter" for his role in leading
the rebel group Jungle Commando in the late 1980's. Only
nine percent of those polled think that former Minister of
Trade and Industry Siegfried Gilds is innocent in the money
laundering investigation against him (See ref A). A dismal
four percent think that former Minister of Public Works
Dewanand Balesar is innocent of the corruption charges he
is facing. (See ref B).

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COMMENT
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7. (SBU) The eight party New Front Plus coalition
government has yet to articulate its vision for Suriname
and what it plans to accomplish during its term. The
macro-economic situation has improved, buildings are under
construction everywhere in Paramaribo and several dynamic
new ministers are busy formulating plans for tackling the
country's myriad problems. However, the failure to engage
the public, the stumbles with the gas price hike (See ref
C) and the preoccupation with intra-coalition politics have
resulted in the public's loss of confidence. The opposition
has seized on every misstep to make political points. (See
ref D). We question whether the President and Vice-
President, aging political veterans, can develop the public
relations savvy to convince the nation that their current
course is the best course.

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