VZCZCXRO6993
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0445 3021654
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R 281654Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0435
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1664

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000445 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR WHA - JROSHOLT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR NS
 
SUBJECT: SURINAME:  BOUTERSE BENEFITS FROM LOW APPROVAL RATINGS FOR 
VENETIAAN GOVERNMENT 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY. A new poll conducted by the Surinamese think tank, 
Institute for Development Oriented Studies (IDOS), showed that if 
the 2010 election were held today, Desi Bouterse and his newly 
formed political bloc, the National Democratic Platform 2008 (NDP 
2008), would win.  Respondents that said they would vote for the NDP 
2008 numbered 35.2 percent -- more than for any other party or bloc. 
 When asked if they thought the current government, the New Front 
Plus Coalition, would win the election or be able to forge another 
coalition government, those who responded in the negative numbered 
65.4 percent.  As to who they would like to see become the next 
president, former President Jules Wijdenbosch and former military 
leader Desi Bouterse received a respective 46.5 percent and 29.9 
percent each, compared to 7.5 percent who said they would pick 
current President Venetiaan. With only 19 months to go before the 
election, and with the NDP 2008 hitting the campaign trail hard, it 
would seem as if Suriname is on its way to yet another NDP-led 
government. Yet 2005 pre-election polls also predicted an opposition 
party win, so the game is definitely not over yet.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) According to a newly released poll from the Surinamese think 
tank, Institute for Development Oriented Studies (IDOS), 53 percent 
of respondents said they were very dissatisfied with the general 
situation in Suriname. The poll surveyed 1,034 people in Paramaribo 
and the districts Commewijne, Nickerie, and Wanica.  Furthermore, 
57.4 percent of respondents disapproved of the government's policies 
on basic food prices, saying that they are through their monthly 
salary in the second week of the month -- leaving two weeks of 
scrambling to get by. Respondents cited housing, land, food prices, 
and education as areas the Venetiaan/Sardjoe government needed to 
improve, but only 13 percent said they believed the ruling 
government would manage to regroup and make life better for them. 
This figure is down two points from the 15 percent who agreed during 
the March 2008 IDOS poll. 
 
¶3. (U) Asked if they thought the current government, the New Front 
Plus Coalition, would win the 2010 elections, or win enough seats to 
form a new coalition government, 65.4 percent decidedly responded 
"no." Those who believed that Bouterse's political bloc would change 
their personal situations and planned to vote for the NDP 2008 
numbered 35.2 percent - more than for any other political party or 
bloc.  In comparison, only 16.4 percent of respondents said they 
would vote for the ruling New Front Plus Coalition.  As to which 
politician those surveyed would like to see become president in 
2010, former President Jules Wijdenbosch and former military leader 
Desi Bouterse, both currently united in the NDP 2008, came out as 
the frontrunners, with a respective 46.5 percent and 29.9 percent 
each. Current President Ronald Venetiaan received a mere 7.5 percent 
of respondents' votes. 
 
¶4. (U) Andre Misiekaba, a NDP Parliamentarian, stated to the media 
that it was very important that the party "does not get carried 
away;" he added that it is important that the NDP 2008 "get a solid 
majority in the coming elections." In reaction to the poll, Arnold 
Kruisland, former Parliamentarian and high ranking NPS official 
(National Party of Suriname, the party led by Venetiaan) told press 
reporters that Venetiaan administration has brought Suriname down 
the road to economic stability and development. He did not seem 
bothered by the poll results and commented that "election time is a 
different time."  Kruisland noted that polls before the 2005 
elections had also shown that "Jules Wijdenbosch would return as 
President, and in the end he only got 6 (out of the 51) seats in 
Parliament." 
 
¶5. (U) COMMENT. The Venetiaan government has brought economic 
stability and some level of development to Suriname. Voters, 
however, question how much that economic development has trickled 
down to benefit the man on the street.  Discussions in the media and 
protests in the streets have mainly surrounded the same issues: 
food prices, and land and housing policies.  The opposition 2008 NDP 
bloc is outspoken in its promises to the electorate.  If the 
Venetiaan government, however, follows through on promises it has 
made to the people over its two consecutive terms, and addresses the 
voter's concerns, could regain voter support.  END COMMENT. 
 
BELL