Suriname presidential candidate promises to legalize bitcoin and replace national currency with it
Date: 2024-11-05 Author: Gabriel Deangelo Categories: IN WORLD
Maya Parbhow, who is running for president of Suriname, voiced her intentions on THE Bitcoin Podcast, promising to legalize bitcoin immediately after her inauguration. According to her, the legalization process can be completed in one day by issuing a corresponding decree. "This requires only one page of a document from the regulator. Neither parliamentary approval nor changes in legislation are needed," the candidate is confident.
However, Parbhow notes that a more detailed plan will be needed to fully integrate bitcoin into the financial system. In this regard, she initiated the creation of a special Transition Commission, which includes international experts. Parbhow’s ultimate goal is to phase out the Surinamese dollar and adopt Bitcoin as the main currency.
Parbhow’s approach is different from El Salvador, where Bitcoin was declared legal tender in 2021, but its adoption among the population remains low. According to Parbhow, legalizing Bitcoin in Suriname is part of a larger strategy to reduce the country’s dependence on the International Monetary Fund and its loans. As part of this plan, she also proposes issuing Bitcoin bonds and using oil revenues to cover the national debt.
Parbhow’s campaign is actively supported by supporters who donate on the Geyser platform. So far, the campaign has raised about $48,000.
During the podcast, Parbhow took a dig at Suriname’s current government, saying it has not only failed to address the country’s economic problems, but has also pushed the health care system to the brink of collapse while the president spends his time on vacation. The candidate notes that her commitment to Bitcoin stems from her own background as an entrepreneur: she started her first business at age 15, reselling Amazon products.
