Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, a 71-year-old physician and former parliamentary speaker, has been elected as the first female president of Suriname. Her election was confirmed by the Surinamese parliament on July 6, 2025, following legislative elections in May where her party secured the most seats. The opposition chose not to nominate a candidate, allowing Simons to assume the presidency without opposition. She succeeds Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi, who decided not to seek re-election. Suriname, a Dutch-speaking country on the Caribbean coast of South America, is currently facing economic challenges but is also preparing to manage an anticipated oil boom due to recent discoveries of large petroleum reserves. Simons has pledged to work towards making the country's wealth accessible to its people. The election has been recognized as a historic milestone for Suriname, with international bodies such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights welcoming her presidency as a step forward for women's participation in politics. The Dutch government has congratulated Simons and expressed optimism about continued cooperation between the two countries.