Nearly one year after Suriname’s general elections, a long-awaited parliamentary vacancy is being filled this May 14, following the passing of veteran Progressive People’s Party (VHP) leader and sitting lawmaker Chan Santokhi. Johnny Kasdjo, a community-focused candidate from the Commewijne district, will be formally sworn in as a new member of the National Assembly (DNA) during a plenary session scheduled to kick off at 9:00 a.m. local time.
Kasdjo’s path to parliament follows a chain of events set in motion by last year’s election cycle. During the May 2025 vote, Kasdjo occupied the 18th spot on the VHP’s party candidate list. The party ultimately secured 17 seats in the election, leaving Kasdjo just outside the threshold for a parliamentary seat, with no immediate path to representation. Santokhi’s passing earlier this year opened an unexpected vacancy, triggering a sequential shift in the VHP candidate rankings that elevates Kasdjo to fill the empty seat.
Hailing from the Commewijne region, Kasdjo built his local profile during the 2025 election campaign around a platform rooted in “integrity and decisive action,” urging voters to support him based on this commitment to principled governance. He has shared publicly that Santokhi personally reached out to invite him to join the VHP, and he made the decision to align with the party after being inspired by the late leader’s approach to public service.
In the months leading up to his swearing-in, Kasdjo has centered his work on addressing local issues across his home district of Commewijne. Known as a socially engaged community advocate, he has provided direct support to vulnerable communities in areas facing hardship across the region. In last year’s general election, he earned 968 individual votes from constituents.
Beyond Kasdjo’s formal admission to the legislative body, Wednesday’s parliamentary agenda includes two other key scheduled sessions. Lawmakers will continue progressing on two priority pieces of legislation: the Country Law and the Fire Department Bill, moving both policy proposals through their next stages of legislative review.