debate Suriname 2025 last Monday night. He reportedly cancelled his appointment at the last minute due to other obligations.

Aroen Bridjmohan who is a member of the board at Sewa 14.73, told Times of Suriname that the organization repeatedly received assurances that the chairman of the orange party would show up. “His secretary and his entire team were already present when the broadcast started. We were constantly given updates. We were told that he would arrive at  a quarter past nine. Then we were told that he would arrive at half past nine, but his secretary eventually told us that he would not come due to other obligations.” After the cancellation the VHP suggested letting MP Mahinder Jogi participate in the second round. But the organization refused because Jogi had already participated in the first round of the election debate and explained that it had also told the NPS that no replacement could be sent.

 “I do not want to set double standards,” said Bridjmohan. “If I do not allow the NPS to do it, I also must not allow the VHP to do so.” MP  Cedric van Samson (VHP) was present so the organization discussed internally whether he could partake in the second round. “I asked permission to the other contestants. Without their permission the organization would not have allowed it,” said Bridjmohan. Van Samson was eventually given the green light to fill in for his chairman, who also happens to be the current head of state.

Sources told Times of Suriname that the top advisors of the chairman of the VHP had advised him to steer clear from the debate because  “Bridjmohan is against the VHP.” The organization behind this debate was criticized because not all of the 14 political parties participated in the debate.  Bridjmohan explained that the second edition that was held in the Prince Ballroom was simply a follow up of the debate that was held in the Netherlands a few weeks ago. “Nine political parties partook in the first edition of the 2025 debate. All of them covered their own  travel expenses and hotel costs,” said Bridjmohan. “We continued with the same nine parties in Suriname,” said  the organizer.