This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Bhutan |
---|
|
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]
Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked country in South Asia. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it is bordered by Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north, the Sikkim state of India and the Chumbi Valley of Tibet in the west, the Arunachal Pradesh state of India in the east, and the states of Assam and West Bengal in the south. Bhutan is geopolitically in South Asia and is the region's second least populous nation after the Maldives. Thimphu is its capital and largest city, while Phuntsholing is its financial center.
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]
A dzongkhag is an administrative and judicial district of Bhutan. The twenty dzongkhags of Bhutan are further divided into 205 gewogs. Some larger dzongkhags have one or more of an intermediate judicial division, known as dungkhags (sub-districts), which themselves comprise two or more gewogs. The Parliament of Bhutan passed legislation in 2002 and 2007 on the status, structure, and leadership of local governments, including dzongkhags. Its most recent legislation regarding dzongkhags is the Local Government Act of 2009. A dzongkhag is headed by a dzongdag, who is an elected official.
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 "Dragon people".
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]
Dagana District is populated mostly by Dzongkha speakers, however in the southwest near Sarpang District, Nepali is also spoken as a native language.
Trashigang District is Bhutan's easternmost dzongkhag (district).
Election day was a public holiday, and the country's borders were closed for the day. [5]
A public holiday, national holiday or legal holiday is a holiday generally established by law and is usually a non-working day during the year.
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 | 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 | 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]
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, born 21 February 1980, is the current reigning Druk Gyalpo or "Dragon King" of the Kingdom of Bhutan. After his father Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated the throne in his favour, he became King on 9 December 2006. A public coronation ceremony was held on 6 November 2008, an auspicious year that marked 100 years of monarchy in Bhutan.
Bhutan's early history is steeped in mythology and remains obscure. Some of the structures provide evidence that the region has been settled as early as 2000 BC. According to a legend it was ruled by a Cooch-Behar king, Sangaldip, around the 7th century BC, but not much is known prior to the introduction of Tibetan Buddhism in the 9th century, when turmoil in Tibet forced many monks to flee to Bhutan. In the 12th century, the Drukpa Kagyupa school was established and remains the dominant form of Buddhism in Bhutan today. The country's political history is intimately tied to its religious history and relations among the various monastic schools and monasteries.
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, ordering that they be created, in anticipation of National Assembly elections to be held 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.
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, political party participation is mainly restricted to the lower house of Parliament, and by extension, to the executive nominated by its majority.
Changlimithang Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan, which serves as the National Stadium. It is predominantly used for football matches and is the home of both the Bhutan national football team and a number of Thimphu-based football clubs who play in both the A-Division and the National League. In addition to football, the stadium also regularly plays host to major archery tournaments, the national sport of Bhutan. The stadium was initially constructed in 1974 for the coronation of the fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck, but was completely refurbished in 2007 in advance of the coronation of the fifth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Floodlighting was added to the football pitch in 2009 and an evergreen turf was laid in 2012, to coincide with the start of the first season of the National League. Located 2,300 meters above sea level, the stadium is one of the highest in the world. It has raised numerous controversies in footballing circles, as its significant altitude affects the absorption of oxygen in the human body, offering considerable advantage to the home team who are more accustomed to such conditions.
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 election: the Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party, which was formed by the merger of the previously established Bhutan People's United Party and All People's Party and is led by Jigme Y. Thinley, and the People's Democratic Party (PDP). The third political party, the Bhutan National Party (BNP), had its application for the registration canceled.
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, though they were 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.
The National Council is the upper house of Bhutan's new bicameral Parliament, which also comprises the Druk Gyalpo and the National Assembly. It is the subordinate house, and cannot author monetary or budget-related bills. Besides creating and reviewing Bhutanese legislation, the National Council acts as the house of review on matters affecting the security, sovereignty, or interests of Bhutan that need to be brought to the notice of the Druk Gyalpo, the Prime Minister and the National Assembly. Twenty members of the first Council were elected in the first ever elections for the Council held on December 31, 2007 and January 29, 2008.
The National Assembly is the elected lower house of Bhutan's new bicameral Parliament which also comprises the Druk Gyalpo and the National Council. It is the more powerful house.
The judicial system of Bhutan is the purview of the Royal Court of Justice, the judicial branch of the government of Bhutan under the Constitution of 2008. The judicial system comprises the Judicial Commission, the courts, the police, the penal code, and regulations on jabmi (attorneys).
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.
Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa, formerly Social Democrat Party is one of the five registered political parties in Bhutan. It was registered on 20 January 2013. As a result of the 2018 national assembly election, DNT is the governing party of Bhutan as the largest party in the National Assembly.
AumDorji Choden is a Bhutanese politician. She was appointed minister of Bhutan's Works and Human Settlement Ministry in 2013, making her the first woman to serve as a minister in Bhutan.
Lotay Tshering is a Bhutanese doctor-turned-politician who is the current Prime Minister of Bhutan, in office since 7 November 2018. He is also the president of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa since 14 May 2018.
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.