Progressive Reform Party (Suriname)

{{Short description|Political party in Suriname}}

{{More citations needed|date=April 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}

{{Infobox political party

| abbreviation = VHP

| country = Suriname

| name = Progressive Reform Party

| native_name = {{native name|nl|Vooruitstrevende Hervormings Partij}}
{{small|वूरुइत्स्त्रेवेन्दे हेर्वोर्मिङ्स पर्तिज}} {{nobold|(Sarnami Hindustani)}}

| colorcode = {{party color|Progressive Reform Party (Suriname)}}

| logo = Progressive Reform Party (Suriname).png

| logo_size = 150

| chairman = Chan Santokhi

| foundation = January 1949

| merger = {{unbulleted list|

• Muslim Party
• Hindostaans-Javaanse Political Party
• Surinamese Hindu Party}}

| ideology = {{Nowrap|Social democracy
Third Way
Civic nationalism
Progressivism{{cn|reason=Your explanation here|date=July 2023}}
Historical:
Indo-Surinamese civil rights
Javanese Surinamese civil rights
Hindu and Muslim religious rights}}

| position = {{nowrap|Centre to centre-left}}

| seats1_title = Seats in the National Assembly

| seats1 = {{Composition bar|20|51|hex={{party color|Progressive Reform Party (Suriname)}}}}

| website = {{URL|http://www.vhp.sr/|vhp.sr}}

}}

The Progressive Reform Party ({{langx|nl|Vooruitstrevende Hervormings Partij}}, VHP; Sarnami Hindustani: वूरुइत्स्त्रेवेन्दे हेर्वोर्मिङ्स पर्तिज or प्रगतिशील सुधार दल, Pragatisheel Sudhaar Dal),{{efn|formerly known as the United Hindustani Party ({{langx|nl|Verenigde Hindoestaanse Partij}}; Sarnami Hindustani: संयुक्त हिंदुस्तानी पार्टी, Samyukt Hindustani Party; 1949–August 1966) and the Vatan Hitkari Party (English: Party for the Promotion of National Welfare; {{Langx|nl|Partij ter Bevordering van het Nationale Welzijn}}, Sarnami Hindustani: वतन हितकारी पार्टी, Vatan Hitkari Party; August 1966 – 1973)}} is a political party in Suriname. It was originally founded in January 1949 as a merger of three parties to represent the Indo-Surinamese community. The party occupies a position straddling the political centre{{cn|reason=Your explanation here|date=July 2023}} and centre-left{{cn|reason=Your explanation here|date=July 2023}}, advocating for a combination of social-democratic{{cn|reason=Your explanation here|date=July 2023}} and social-liberal{{cn|reason=Your explanation here|date=July 2023}} policies under the Third Way{{cn|reason=Your explanation here|date=July 2023}} philosophy. During the party's history it frequently allied itself with the National Party of Suriname (NPS) that historically represented the Afro-Surinamese community.

Chan Santokhi is the chairman of the party since 3 July 2011. The VHP is a multi-ethnic party and is primarily supported by Indo-Surinamese. Previous chairman Ram Sardjoe holds the title of honorary chairman.

After the 2020 parliamentary elections, the Progressive Reform Party is the biggest political party in Suriname. Chan Santokhi became the new President of Suriname.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53394785|title = Suriname election: Convicted murderer Dési Bouterse is replaced by ex-police chief|work = BBC News|date = 14 July 2020}}

The party has been part of seven government coalitions, in the periods of: 1958–1963 (five years), 1963–1967 (four years), 1969–1973 (four years), 1987–1991 (four years), 1991–1996 (five years), 2000–2005 (five years) and 2005–2010 (five years); a total of 32 years. In 2020, the party formed a coalition government with the General Liberation and Development Party led by Ronnie Brunswijk, the new Vice President of Suriname.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53394785|title = Suriname election: Convicted murderer Dési Bouterse is replaced by ex-police chief|work = BBC News|date = 14 July 2020}}