For a long time it was the largest ruling party in the country, and it has been in government for a total of over 40 years.

Of the 16 general elections held in Suriname, the party or a coalition it was a leading part of finished in first place 11 times.

At the 2005 legislative elections, the party was part of the New Front for Democracy and Development that won 41.2% of the popular vote and 23 out of 51 seats in the National Assembly.

[1][2] Under Rusland's leadership, the party has adopted some elements of the Third Way into its ideology and moved slightly closer to the political centre.

In the 2025 Surinamese general election the NPS has nominated Maya Parbhoe as their candidate for President of Suriname.