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National Council elections were held in Bhutan on 23 April 2013. [1] All candidates ran as independents, as National Council members were prohibited from belonging to a political party. [2]
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National Council elections were held in Bhutan on 23 April 2013. [1] All candidates ran as independents, as National Council members were prohibited from belonging to a political party. [2]
The 20 members of the National Council were elected in single-member constituencies equivalent to the country's twenty Dzongkhags. A further five members were appointed by the Druk Gyalpo. [2]
Candidates had to register by 31 March, whilst the campaigning period lasted from 1 to 21 April. [1] A total of 67 candidates registered to run in the election, although the Dagana and Trashigang dzongkhags had only one candidate each. [3] In those dzongkhags voters were given the choice of voting against the only candidate. [4]
Election day was a public holiday, and the country's borders were closed for the day. [5]
| Dzongkhag | Candidate | Votes | % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bumthang | Nima | 2,264 | 48.41 | Elected |
| Sonam Tenzin | 971 | 20.76 | ||
| Rinchen Phuntsho | 951 | 20.33 | ||
| Tshewang Jurmi | 491 | 10.50 | ||
| Chukha | Pema Tenzin | 6,995 | 65.53 | Elected |
| Tshewang Lhamo | 3,680 | 34.47 | ||
| Dagana | Sonam Dorji | 7,989 | 81.83 | Elected |
| Against | 1,774 | 18.17 | ||
| Gasa | Sangay Khandu | 603 | 44.60 | Elected |
| Tenzin | 407 | 30.10 | ||
| Yeshey Dorji | 342 | 25.30 | ||
| Haa | Tshering Dorji | 1,866 | 51.68 | Elected |
| Khandu Wangchuk | 634 | 17.56 | ||
| Choda Jamtsho | 631 | 17.47 | ||
| Tenzin Norbu | 480 | 13.29 | ||
| Lhuntse | Tempa Dorji | 3,193 | 60.08 | Elected |
| Rinzin Rinzin | 2,122 | 39.92 | ||
| Mongar | Sonam Wangchuk | 4,821 | 38.13 | Elected |
| Naichu | 4,484 | 35.47 | ||
| Tshering Wangchen | 3,338 | 26.40 | ||
| Paro | Kaka Tshering | 2,422 | 23.73 | Elected |
| Kinley Dorji | 2,075 | 20.33 | ||
| Ugyen Tshering | 2,071 | 20.29 | ||
| Sonam Wangchuk | 2,056 | 20.14 | ||
| Tshewang Norbu | 1,583 | 15.51 | ||
| Pemagatshel | Jigmi Rinzin | 5,184 | 57.78 | Elected |
| Pema Wangchuk | 2,103 | 23.44 | ||
| Sherab Jamtsho | 1,685 | 18.78 | ||
| Punakha | Rinzin Dorji | 3,449 | 55.51 | Elected |
| Namgay Dorji | 2,764 | 44.49 | ||
| Samdrup Jongkhar | Jigme Wangchuk | 5,213 | 55.28 | Re-elected |
| Kinga Dorji | 2,434 | 25.81 | ||
| Sangay Lhendup | 1,784 | 18.92 | ||
| Samtse | Sangay Khandu | 9,907 | 48.56 | Elected |
| Dhan Kumar Ghalley | 4,595 | 22.52 | ||
| Chungdu Tshering | 1,944 | 9.53 | ||
| Chhatrapati Phuyel | 1,363 | 6.68 | ||
| Ganesh Ghimiray | 912 | 4.47 | ||
| Kharananda Dhakal | 906 | 4.44 | ||
| Narayan Dahal | 775 | 3.80 | ||
| Sarpang | Dhan Bdr. Monger | 4,131 | 32.89 | Elected |
| Sonam Doekar | 3,855 | 30.69 | ||
| Rangu Pati Suberi | 1,674 | 13.33 | ||
| Anand Rai | 1,488 | 11.85 | ||
| Dhan Kumar Basnet | 1,412 | 11.24 | ||
| Thimphu | Nima Gyeltshen | 2,250 | 41.78 | Elected |
| Tshering | 1,624 | 30.16 | ||
| Tshering Tashi | 1,511 | 28.06 | ||
| Trashigang | Sonam Kinga | 11,229 | 81.20 | Re-elected |
| Against | 2,600 | 18.80 | ||
| Trashiyangtse | Tashi Phuntsho | 3,226 | 58.51 | Elected |
| Karma Gyeltshen | 2,288 | 41.49 | ||
| Trongsa | Tharchen | 2,083 | 47.15 | Elected |
| Tashi Samdrup | 1,629 | 36.87 | ||
| Jagar Dorji | 706 | 15.98 | ||
| Tsirang | Kamal Bahadur Gurung | 2,381 | 24.40 | Elected |
| Passang Thingh Tamang | 2,011 | 20.61 | ||
| Shyam Basnet | 1,920 | 19.68 | ||
| Novin Darlami | 1,664 | 17.05 | ||
| Sangay Tamang | 1,305 | 13.37 | ||
| Justin Gurung | 477 | 4.89 | ||
| Wangdue Phodrang | Tashi Dorji | 5,848 | 57.84 | Elected |
| Sonam Yangchen | 3,540 | 35.01 | ||
| Chado Namgyal | 723 | 7.15 | ||
| Zhemgang | Pema Dakpa | 2,413 | 35.92 | Elected |
| Yeshi Tshomo | 1,219 | 18.15 | ||
| Dorji Kadin | 1,209 | 18.00 | ||
| Ugyen Chophel | 968 | 14.41 | ||
| Pema Lhamo | 909 | 13.53 | ||
| Total | 171,544 | 100 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 379,819 | 45.16 | ||
| Source: Election Commission of Bhutan [4] [6] | ||||
Following the election Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck appointed Dasho Karma Yezer Raydi, Kuenlay Tshering, Karma Damcho Nidup, Tashi Wangmo and Tashi Wangyal to the Council. [7]
The Government of Bhutan has been a constitutional monarchy since 18 July 2008. The King of Bhutan is the head of state. The executive power is exercised by the Lhengye Zhungtshog, or council of ministers, headed by the Prime Minister. Legislative power is vested in the bicameral Parliament, both the upper house, National Council, and the lower house, National Assembly. A royal edict issued on April 22, 2007 lifted the previous ban on political parties in anticipation of the National Assembly elections in the following year. In 2008, Bhutan adopted its first modern Constitution, codifying the institutions of government and the legal framework for a democratic multi-party system.
The Kingdom of Bhutan is divided into 20 districts. Bhutan is located between the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and India on the eastern slopes of the Himalayas in South Asia.
Elections in Bhutan are conducted at national (Parliamentary) and local levels. Suffrage is universal for citizens 18 and over, and under applicable election laws. In national elections, also known as the general elections, political party participation is mainly restricted to the lower house of Parliament, and by extension, to the executive nominated by its majority.
National Assembly elections were held in Bhutan for the first time on 24 March 2008. Two parties were registered by the Election Commission of Bhutan to contest the elections; Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, led by Jigme Y. Thinley, which was formed by the merger of the Bhutan People's United Party and All People's Party, and the People's Democratic Party (PDP). A third political party, the Bhutan National Party (BNP), had its application for the registration refused.
The development of Bhutanese democracy has been marked by the active encouragement and participation of reigning Bhutanese monarchs since the 1950s, beginning with legal reforms such as the abolition of slavery, and culminating in the enactment of Bhutan's Constitution. The first democratic elections in Bhutan began in 2007, and all levels of government had been democratically elected by 2011. These elections included Bhutan's first ever partisan National Assembly election. Democratization in Bhutan has been marred somewhat by the intervening large-scale expulsion and flight of Bhutanese refugees during the 1990s; the subject remains somewhat taboo in Bhutanese politics.
National Council elections were held in Bhutan for the first time on 31 December 2007, having been originally scheduled for 26 December. The new National Council had 25 members, which 20 members were directly elected from 20 dzongkhags by 312,817 eligible voters, and five more were appointed by the Druk Gyalpo. Nominations had to be filed by 27 November 2007, and the campaigning for 15 of the 20 dzongkhags took place from 30 November until 31 December 2007.
Druk Phuensum Tshogpa is one of the major political parties in Bhutan. It was formed on 25 July 2007 as a merger of the All People's Party and the Bhutan People's United Party, which were both short-lived. The working committee of the merged entity, headed by the former home minister, Jigmi Yoezer Thinley, decided on the name for the new party. On 15 August 2007, Jigmi Yoezer Thinley was elected president of the party, and the party applied for registration, thus becoming the second political party in Bhutan to do so. On 2 October 2007, the Election Commission of Bhutan registered the party. On 24 March 2008, the party won the first general election held in Bhutan. The party secured 45 of the 47 seats to the National Assembly. The party tends to be more popular in the east of the country.
The National Council is the upper house of Bhutan's bicameral Parliament, which also comprises the Druk Gyalpo and the National Assembly.
The National Assembly is the elected lower house of Bhutan's bicameral Parliament which also comprises the Druk Gyalpo and the National Council. It is the more powerful house.
The Druk Gyalpo is the head of state of the Kingdom of Bhutan. In the Dzongkha language, Bhutan is known as Drukyul which translates as "The Land of the Thunder Dragon". Thus, while kings of Bhutan are known as Druk Gyalpo, the Bhutanese people call themselves the Drukpa, meaning "people of Druk (Bhutan)".
The Constitution of Bhutan was enacted 18 July 2008 by the Royal Government of Bhutan. The Constitution was thoroughly planned by several government officers and agencies over a period of almost seven years amid increasing democratic reforms in Bhutan. The current Constitution is based on Buddhist philosophy, international Conventions on Human Rights, comparative analysis of 20 other modern constitutions, public opinion, and existing laws, authorities, and precedents. According to Princess Sonam Wangchuck, the constitutional committee was particularly influenced by the Constitution of South Africa because of its strong protection of human rights.
The Supreme Court of Bhutan is the Kingdom of Bhutan's highest court of review and interpreter of the Constitution.
National Assembly elections were held in Bhutan on 31 May and 13 July 2013. The result was a victory for the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP), which won 32 of the 47 seats. The elections were the second general elections to occur in Bhutan since former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck ushered in democratic reforms.
Dasho Sherub Gyeltshen is a Bhutanese politician who served as the Minister for Home and Cultural Affairs from November 2018 to 6 May 2021 when he resigned. He was a member of the National Assembly of Bhutan from October 2018 to May 6, 2021.
Wangchuk Namgyel is a Bhutanese educationist and politician who is the current Speaker of the National Assembly of Bhutan, in office since November 2018. He has been a member of the National Assembly of Bhutan, since October 2018.
Tshencho Wangdi is a Bhutanese politician who is the current Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Bhutan, in office since November 2018. He has been a member of the National Assembly of Bhutan, since October 2018.
Karma Donnen Wangdi is a Bhutanese politician who has been Minister for Information and Communication since November 2018. He has been a member of the National Assembly of Bhutan, since October 2018. Previously he was the member of the National Council of Bhutan from 2008 to 2013.
Kinga Penjor is a Bhutanese politician who has been a member of the National Assembly of Bhutan, since October 2018.
Ganesh Ghimiray is a Bhutanese politician who has been a member of the National Assembly of Bhutan, since October 2018.
Shingkhar Lam Kunzang Wangchuk was a Bhutanese politician, who served as a speaker of the Gyelyong Tshogdu. After his uncle went missing, he served two Druk Gyalpos (kings) of Bhutan. He created the insignia for the Royal Bhutan Army and rewrote the Druk Tsendhen.
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