Chan Santokhi
Chandrikapersad "Chan" Santokhi (3 February 1959 – 30 March 2026) was a Surinamese politician and chief of police who was the President of Suriname from 2020 until 2025.
Chan Santokhi | |
|---|---|
चान संतोखी | |
.jpg) Official portrait, 2020 | |
| 9th President of Suriname | |
| In office 16 July 2020 – 16 July 2025 | |
| Vice President | Ronnie Brunswijk |
| Preceded by | Dési Bouterse |
| Succeeded by | Jennifer Geerlings-Simons |
| Leader of the Progressive Reform Party | |
| In office 3 July 2011 – 30 March 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Ramdien Sardjoe |
| Succeeded by | TBD |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 12 August 2010 – 16 July 2020 | |
| Constituency | Wanica District |
| Minister of Justice and Police | |
| In office 1 September 2005 – 13 August 2010 | |
| President | Ronald Venetiaan |
| Preceded by | Siegfried Gilds |
| Succeeded by | Lamuré Latour (ad interim) Martin Misiedjan |
| Chairman of the Caribbean Community | |
| In office 1 July 2022[1] – 31 December 2022 | |
| Secretary-General | Carla Barnett |
| Preceded by | Johnny Briceño[1] |
| Succeeded by | Philip Davis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Chandrikapersad Santokhi 3 February 1959 Lelydorp, Suriname District, Suriname (present-day Wanica District, Suriname) |
| Died | 30 March 2026 (aged 67) Paramaribo, Suriname |
| Political party | Progressive Reform Party |
| Spouse(s) | Unknown
(divorced) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Nederlandse Politieacademie, Apeldoorn (BS) |
| Awards | Honorary Order of the Yellow Star (2010)[2] Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (2023) |
| Nickname(s) | Sheriff |
Presidency
After winning the 2020 elections, Santokhi was the only nomination for President of Suriname. On 13 July, Santokhi was elected President in an uncontested election. He was inaugurated three days later on 16 July.[3]
He was inaugurated on 16 July, on the Onafhankelijkheidsplein in Paramaribo in ceremony without the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4]
In September 2021, Santokhi visited the Netherlands and became the first Surinamese president to do so since 2008, after diplomatic relations between the two countries had become better.[5]
Personal life and death
On 19 July 2020, Chan Santokhi married his long-term partner, Mellisa Seenacherry.[6] He also has two adult children from his last marriage.[7]
Santokhi was hospitalized on 30 March 2026 after having a medical emergency at his home in Paramaribo, Suriname.[8] He died a few hours later at the age of 67.[9]
Chan Santokhi Media
Santokhi with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in January 2022
Santokhi with European Commissioner Frans Timmermans in July 2023
Honorary Order of the Yellow Star (Suriname) - ribbon bar
Order of the Palm (Suriname) - ribbon bar
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Ribbon
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rotation schedulecaricom.org Archived 2021-12-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ H.E. Chandrikapersad Santokhi. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 (in nl) Inauguratie nieuwe president van Suriname op Onafhankelijkheidsplein. https://www.waterkant.net/suriname/2020/07/12/inauguratie-nieuwe-president-van-suriname-op-onafhankelijkheidsplein/. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ↑ (in nl) Live blog: Inauguratie president en vicepresident. http://dwtonline.com/laatste-nieuws/2020/07/16/live-blog-inauguratie-president-en-vicepresident/. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ↑ (in nl) Waarom het bezoek van de Surinaamse president aan Nederland historisch is. http://www.trouw.nl/binnenland/waarom-het-bezoek-van-de-surinaamse-president-aan-nederland-historisch-is~b7aa1aec/. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ↑ (in nl) President Santokhi en partner Mellisa trouwen vandaag. https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/59707. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ↑ Ramcharan, Ashwin. Chan (in nl) (21 April 2020)Uitgeverij De Mango Boom. p. 163. ISBN 978-94-028-1728-7.
- ↑ Chandrikapersad Santokhi op 67-jarige leeftijd overleden. Waterkant. 30 March 2026. https://www.waterkant.net/suriname/2026/03/30/chandrikapersad-santokhi-op-67-jarige-leeftijd-overleden/. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ (in en-US) Suriname's former President Santokhi dies suddenly. https://www.reuters.com/world/surinames-former-president-santokhi-dies-67-spokesperson-says-2026-03-30/. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
Other websites
Media related to Chan Santokhi at Wikimedia Commons