Jennifer Geerlings-Simons
Jennifer Geerlings-Simons | |
|---|---|
Geerlings-Simons in 2025 | |
| 11th President of Suriname | |
| Assumed office 16 July 2025 | |
| Vice President | Gregory Rusland |
| Preceded by | Chan Santokhi |
| President of the National Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office 13 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Dési Bouterse |
| Chairperson of the National Assembly of Suriname | |
| In office 30 June 2010 – 28 June 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Somohardjo |
| Succeeded by | Ronnie Brunswijk |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 23 May 1996 – 25 May 2020 | |
| Constituency | Paramaribo District |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jennifer Simons 5 September 1953 |
| Party | National Democratic |
| Spouse |
Glenn Geerlings (m. 1981) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Suriname (Drs.) |
| Profession | Physician |
Jennifer Geerlings-Simons (née Simons; born 5 September 1953) is a Surinamese politician and former physician who is serving as the eleventh president of Suriname since 16 July 2025. A member of the National Democratic Party (NDP), she has been the party's president since 2024.
Geerlings-Simons began her career as a physician, working as a dermatologist, and later in the National HIV/AIDS program. In 1996, she joined politics and was elected to the National Assembly in the general elections. Shortly after the 2010 general elections, Geerlings-Simons was elected the chairperson of the National Assembly from 2010 to 2020, becoming the second female to hold this role.
In July 2024, Geerlings-Simons became the president of the National Democratic Party after the death of Dési Bouterse. The following year in May 2025, she led the party to a first-place plurality in the general election held on 25 May. Simons was subsequently elected President on 6 July 2025, becoming the first female president in the nation's history.