Ronald Venetiaan | |
|---|---|
 Venetiaan in 2003 | |
| 6th President of Suriname | |
| In office 12 August 2000 – 12 August 2010 | |
| Vice President | Jules Ajodhia (2000–2005) Ram Sardjoe (2005–2010) |
| Preceded by | Jules Wijdenbosch |
| Succeeded by | Dési Bouterse |
| In office 16 September 1991 – 15 September 1996 | |
| Vice President | Jules Ajodhia |
| Preceded by | Johan Kraag |
| Succeeded by | Jules Wijdenbosch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan (1936-06-18)18 June 1936 |
| Died | 5 November 2025(2025-11-05) (aged 89) Paramaribo,Suriname |
| Political party | National Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan (18 June 1936 – 5 November 2025) was a Surinamese politician who served asPresident of Suriname between 1991 and 1996, and between 2000 and 2010.
Venetiaan was born inParamaribo on 18 June 1936.[1] He leftSuriname in 1955 and moved to the Netherlands to studymathematics andphysics at theUniversity of Leiden,[2] graduating in 1964 and obtaining adoctorandus. Venetiaan returned to Suriname shortly afterwards[3] and became a mathematics and physics teacher.[2]
In 1973, Venetiaan served as Minister of Education for theNational Party of Suriname (NPS) in the government ofHenck Arron,[4] until Arron's overthrow by the1980 Surinamese coup d'état led byDési Bouterse.[5][4] He then decided to work as a professor at theAnton de Kom University.[2]
In 1987, he returned to politics as the Chairman of the NPS,[3] and served again as the Minister of Education.[2] Venetiaan launched his first presidency bid in1991, winning and serving until1996,[6][2][3] after which he lost in the elections toJules Wijdenbosch. He was a candidate again in the2000 election, when he regained his former position on theNew Front banner.[2] Venetiaan won an absolute majority of 37 from 51 votes in Parliament,[7] and won his third termin 2005, completing the term until 2010.[8] Venetiaan resigned as the Chair of the NPS and handed over the leadership toGregory Rusland in 2012; he subsequently retired from politics in 2013,[4] saying that "he thought that it was time that the younger generation take over".[2]
Venetiaan was a mathematician,[9] and an author. His first poetry book was written under thepseudonymVene in the workMamio (1962) and he used the pseudonymKrumanty in other writings.[10] Although most of his works were never published, they were performed in theatre plays,[11] and he collaborated on PresidentChan Santokhi'sWe gaan Suriname redden (We are going to save Suriname) book of 2020.[5][12]
Venetiaan was married toLiesbeth Vanenburg, and had three daughters and one son.[5][6] He died in Paramaribo on 5 November 2025, at the age of 89.[13][14] PresidentJennifer Geerlings-Simons lamented his death and said that Venetiaan was "a statesman" and "great son of the nation", praising his commitment to democracy.[5] Former President Santokhi expressed his condolences, adding that Venetiaan was "a statesman" whose death "leaves a great void."[5]
Suriname:_-_ribbon_bar.gif)
Grand Cordon of theHonorary Order of the Yellow Star – 2020[15]_-_ribbon_bar.png)
Grand Cordon of theHonorary Order of the Palm – 1991[16] Commander of theHonorary Order of the Yellow Star – 1978[16]
Brazil:
Collar of theOrder of the Southern Cross – 1995[17]
Netherlands:
Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of Orange-Nassau – 1978[18]
Venezuela:
Collar of theOrder of the Liberator – 1993[9]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of Suriname 1991–1996 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of Suriname 2000–2010 | Succeeded by |
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| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
