Suriname's president has dismissed the acting speaker of Parliament,
asserting the firing was necessary to uphold the South American nation's
constitution.
President Desi Bouterse told reporters Monday that he "had no other
choice than to dismiss" acting speaker Paul Somohardjo shortly after he
was sworn because Somohardjo said he needed more time to prepare for the
body's inaugural session.
Bouterse says a crisis would have been created if other members of the
new Parliament were not sworn in Tuesday, five years after the last
legislature started.
Somohardjo's legal adviser, Hugo Essed, asserts the firing was an
illegal move by the president. But constitutional law professor Sam
Polanen says Bouterse was right to take action.
Last month, Bouterse's party dominated elections to win a 26-seat majority in the 51-seat Parliament.
Source : abcnews.go.com