in 1973, a new dutch cabinet under labour leader joop den uyl assumed power. in the government policy statement, the cabinet declared a wish to determine a date for the independence of suriname and the netherlands antilles with the governments of those nations. the antillean government was non-committal; the same held for the surinamese sedney cabinet (1969–1973). suriname's 1973 elections brought the national party combination ("nationale partij kombinatie") to power, with henck arron as prime minister. the new government declared that suriname would be independent before 1976. this was remarkable, as independence had not been an issue during the election campaign. the den uyl government in the hague now had a willing partner in paramaribo to realise its plans for surinamese independence. despite vehement and emotional resistance by the surinamese opposition, den uyl and arron reached an agreement, and, on 25 november 1975, suriname became independent.