| Country: | Suriname |
| Brotherhood and Unity in Politics | |
| Native Name: | Broederschap en Eenheid in de Politiek |
| Split: | PBP |
| Foundation: | 29 April 1973 |
| Ideology: | Social democracy Historical: Maroon interests |
| Position: | Centre-left |
| Seats1 Title: | National Assembly |
Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (Dutch; Flemish: Broederschap en Eenheid in de Politiek) is a political party in Suriname founded on 29 April 1973.[1]
It was originally founded as the Bush Negro Unity Party (Dutch; Flemish: Bosnegers Eenheid Partij) to represent the Maroon community in interior areas of the country[2] and was renamed in 1987.[3] It turned its focus away from the promotion of a specific ethnicity's interests, although it still enjoys popularity among the Maroon community.[4]
The party did not participate in the elections of 1987, because the Surinamese Interior War made it difficult to access their members in the interior.[1]
At the 2005 legislative election, the party was part of the "A-Combination",[1] an alliance that won 7.5% of the popular vote and five out of 51 seats in the National Assembly.[5]
In 2012, there was an internal struggle within the party. The party was part of the A-Combination, a union of all Maroon parties, but wanted to leave the alliance, however deputies Diana Pokie and Waldie Adjaiso opposed the suggestion causing a split within the party. In April 2012, BEP refused to support the Amnesty Law which would grant the suspects in the December Murders, including Dési Bouterse, immunity.[6] In May 2012, the two ministers of the BEP were dismissed by Bouterse.[7] Caprino Alendy who had been the chairperson since 1987 stepped down to be replaced by .[8]
In 2018, was elected as the Chairperson of the party.[9] In the 2020 elections, the BEP won 2 seats.[10] It contested in only 6 of the districts, and did not run in Nickerie, Commewijne, Coronie and Saramacca. The BEP is not part of the 2020 coalition.[11]
| Election | Seats won | +/– | Votes | Districts won | Government | Alliance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 3,198 | Opposition | none | ||||
| 1987 | Did not contest | ||||||
| 1991 | Opposition | Democratic Alternative '91 | |||||
| 1996 | Opposition | ||||||
| 2000 | 1 | Brokopondo 1 (of 3) | Opposition | ||||
| 2005 | 3 | Paramaribo 1 (of 17) 1 (of 3) 1 (of 3) 1 (of 4) | Coalition | A-Combination | |||
| 2010 | 0 | Brokopondo 2 (of 3)Sipaliwini 2 (of 4) | Coalition | ||||
| 2015 | 2 | 4,618 | Paramaribo 1 (of 17)Sipaliwini 1 (of 4) | Opposition | V7 | ||
| 2020 | 0 | 6,835 | Sipaliwini 1 (of 4)Brokopondo 1 (of 3) | Opposition | none | ||