Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan (born 18 June 1936)[1] is a former politician who served as the sixth president of Suriname.

Ronald Venetiaan
6th President of Suriname
In office
12 August 2000 – 12 August 2010
Vice PresidentJules Ajodhia (2000–2005)
Ram Sardjoe (2005–2010)
Preceded byJules Wijdenbosch
Succeeded byDési Bouterse
In office
16 September 1991 – 15 September 1996
Vice PresidentJules Ajodhia
Preceded byJohan Kraag
Succeeded byJules Wijdenbosch
Personal details
Born
Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan

(1936-06-18) 18 June 1936 (age 88)
Paramaribo, Surinam
Political partyNational Party
SpouseLiesbeth Vanenburg

Biography

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Venetiaan was born in Paramaribo.[1] In 1955, Venetiaan left Suriname to study mathematics and physics at the University of Leiden.[2] In 1964, he obtained his doctorandus, and returned to Suriname[3] to become a mathematics and physics teacher.[2]

In 1973 Venetiaan was Minister of Education for the National Party of Suriname (NPS) in the government of Henck Arron.[4] He was disposed by the 1980 Surinamese coup d'état.[4] Venetiaan decided to teach at the Anton de Kom University.[2]

In 1987, Venetiaan returned to politics as the Chairman of the National Party of Suriname,[3] and as the Minister of Education.[2]

His first term as president ran from 1991 to 1996,[5][2][3] after which he lost in the elections to Jules Wijdenbosch. In 2000 however, he regained his former position on the New Front banner,[2] receiving an absolute majority of 37 from 51 votes in the Parliament.[6]

In 2005 he was re-elected to serve a third term as president and sworn in on August 12, 2005.[7] Venetiaan relinquished the Chair of the NPS to Gregory Rusland in 2012, and retired from politics in 2013.[4] Venetiaan thought that it was time that the younger generation take over.[2]

Personal life

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Venetiaan is a mathematician[8] beside all political activity. His surname means Venetian (a person from Venice) in Dutch. Venetiaan published his first poetry under the pseudonym Vene in Mamio (1962). Most of his work was never published but was performed in theatre plays.[9] Venetiaan had also used the pseudonym Krumanty.[10] Venetiaan is a collaborator on Chan Santokhi's We gaan Suriname redden (We are going to save Suriname) of 2020.[11]

Ronald Venetiaan is married to Liesbeth Vanenburg, and has three daughters and one son.[5]

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ a b Roger East; Richard J. Thomas (3 June 2014). Profiles of People in Power: The World's Government Leaders. Taylor & Francis. p. 513. ISBN 978-1-317-63939-8.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Ronald Venetiaan: 'Ik treed terug om politieke redenen'". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). 16 October 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "NPS: Nationale Partij Suriname". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Ex-president Venetiaan viert 80e verjaardag". Parbode (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b Historie kabinet
  6. ^ "Suriname geschiedenis". Landenweb (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Verkiezingen in Suriname 2005". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Curriculum Vitae Runaldo R. Venetiaan". Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Suriname (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2006-11-02. Retrieved 2006-11-02.
  9. ^ Shrinivási (1970). "Wortoe d'e tan abra". Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  10. ^ Michiel van Kempen (2002). "Een geschiedenis van de Surinaamse literatuur. Deel 4". Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Het Boek CHAN". chanhetboek.org (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  12. ^ https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean-breaking-news-featured/former-suriname-president-receives-countrys-highest-award
  13. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20061102074849/http://www.kabinet.sr.org/President/cv_Venetiaan.htm
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Political offices
Preceded by President of Suriname
1991–1996
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Suriname
2000–2010
Succeeded by