Election Date: March 24, 2008

Abstract: At stake: National Assembly

At stake: National Assembly

Background

Bhutan will celebrate its first-ever legislative elections in 2007 in 2008. The small kingdom located between India and Tibet, strengthened its ties to India during the 1960s as a way to avoid the fate of Tibet, which was invaded by China. The country had been largely isolated from the rest of the world until then. Traditional practices like slavery and the caste system were slowly dropped in the following years.

In 1985, Bhutan established its first diplomatic ties with non-Asian nations. In 1991, a pro-democracy movement led mainly by Nepalese immigrants began to emerge in Bhutan. Thousands of residents of Nepalese origin were expelled by order of the government during that decade. Refugee camps outside Bhutan are still sheltering those who were forced to flee.

Bhutan is currently transitioning from an absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy. The king, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchukin, has governed since 2006. His father, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, initiated Bhutan’s path towards constitutional reform. In 1998, he began by limiting his own absolute power as monarch. In 2005, he released Bhutan’s first draft Constitution, which included plans to hold legislative elections and turn the country into a two-party democracy.

In 2006, Wangchuck abdicated in favour of his son.

The estimated 2.3 million inhabitants of Bhutan live in a mostly rural country that relies almost completely on agriculture and traditional forms of commerce. Infrastructure and industry are practically non-existent. The last literacy estimates—compiled in 2005— stand at 42 per cent. Life expectancy is just over 55 years.

Bhutan’s traditional name since the 17th century has been Drukyul, or Land of the Drokpa (Dragon People), a reference to the dominant branch of Tibetan Buddhism that is still practiced in the kingdom.

2007 and 2008 Elections

On Apr. 22, 2007, a Royal edict ordered the creation of political parties in Bhutan. The new political groups will be able to participate in the first-ever legislative elections in the kingdom.

The edict was released following a mock election at the national level organized by the government on Apr. 21 as a way to prepare for the real ballot. With the presence of electoral observers from the United Nations (UN) and India, voters in 47 constituencies of the National Assembly of Bhutan attended 869 polling stations.

Four fake parties identified by colours participated in the two-round mock ballot: The Druk Blue Party, which stood for fairness and accountability in government; the Druk Green Party, which stood for environmental principles; the Druk Red Party, which called for industrial development; and the Druk Yellow Party, which represented traditional values. Druk is Bhutanese for "thunder dragon."

Election results from the first round placed the Yellows first with 44.30 per cent of the vote, followed by the Reds with 20.38 per cent, the Blues also with 20.38 per cent, and the Greens with 14.94 per cent. Turnout was tabled at 44 per cent, with 124,747 cast ballots.

The second round of the mock ballot—a run-off between the top two parties—took place in May. High school students selected at random represented the leaders of the Druk Yellow Party and the Druk Red Party. The final tally placed the Yellows as winners taking control of 46 out of the 47 constituencies. Turnout for the second round was tabled at 66 per cent.

In July 2007, Bhutanese prime minister Khandu Wangchuk resigned so he could join a political party and run in the ballot. Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji took over as the interim prime minister in August.

On Oct. 22, the electoral body announced that the election to the country’s National Council—the upper house of the legislature—will be held on Dec. 31. Chief election commissioner Kunzang Wangdi said that "there will be 20 directly elected members in the National Council and five members will be appointed by His majesty the King."

The 2008 election to the National Assembly—the lower house of Bhutan’s legislature—will be held in two rounds. A first nationwide stage will allow the electorate to vote for a party. The two parties with the largest amount of votes will then file candidates in the country’s 47 constituencies and contest the second round.

Three parties have been created so far. The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) is a merger of the former Bhutan People’s United Party and All People’s Party, and counts with five cabinet ministers who resigned in order to enter political life. The party manifesto vows to alleviate poverty and address the widening wealth gap.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) promises to help establish a solid democracy in Bhutan by promoting civil liberties and the rule of law, and "pledges to serve His Majesty the Fifth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and future Monarchs with absolute loyalty and devotion, and the people of Bhutan with humility and dedication."

The Bhutan National Party (BNP) is home to retired civil servants, retired defence officers and business people. BNP will address corruption and unemployment if elected to office. It has vowed to increase the number of jobs in Bhutan by over 60 per cent if it wins the ballot.

On Dec. 26, chief election commissioner Kunzang Wangdi called on voters to take part, saying, “One should participate in shaping the future of the country and fulfilling the country’s vision for a vibrant democracy. Let us vote and make a difference during both the National Council and the National Assembly elections, because the opportunity for pilgrimage will come every year.”

National Council voting took place on Dec. 31. In this exercise, voters chose 15 of the legislative body’s 20 elected representatives. A new ballot to pick the remaining five lawmakers was postponed until Jan. 29, 2008, due to lack of candidates. Chief election commissioner Wangdi declared: “We are happy with the turnout of voters. It went off peacefully without any hitch.”

The National Assembly election is scheduled for Mar. 24, 2008. The Election Commission cancelled the registration of the Bhutan National Party (BNP). Therefore, only two political organizations will take part in the ballot.

The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT), led by former prime minister Khandu Wangchuk, merges the Bhutan People’s United Party and the All People’s Party, and is considered as a social-democratic organization. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), led by former prime minister Sangay Ngedup, is deemed as a liberal alternative.

On Mar. 12, Bhutanese soldiers and police launched a crackdown against ethnic Nepali rebels. A raid on two small Maoist camps in southern Bhutan led to the capture of at least eight rebels. Chief election commissioner Wangdi declared: “We have taken the security aspect more seriously as we cannot take chances. The fact is people in camps and the communist parties have made in clear that they want to stop the elections. They have even distributed pamphlets urging people not to participate. We cannot take it as a hollow threat.”

Voting took place on Mar. 24, without any major difficulties. Final results released by election commissioner Kunzang Wangdi gave the royalist Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (DPT) 44 of the 47 seats at stake, with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) securing the remaining three mandates. Wangdi said that turnout was just over 79 per cent of the 320,000 registered voters.

On Mar. 24, Yeshey Zimba, one of the newly elected lawmakers from the DPT, said his party will follow the monarch’s “vision” for the time being, declaring, “I don’t think we’ll have a different policy on any issue at this point. (…) The past has been very wonderful and successful. We will be guided by the past, the good policies His Majesty has provided us.”

PDP leader Sangay Ngedup, failed to win a seat in his own constituency.

On Mar. 27, election officials issued a correction, saying there had been a mistake in the recording of votes in the Phuentsholing constituency. The new tallies gave the DPT 45 of the 47 seats at stake.

Political Players

King: Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck
Prime minister: Kinzang Dorji

Legislative Branch: The National Council (upper house of the legislature) has 25 members; 20 members directly elected and five appointed by the king. The National Assembly of Bhutan (lower house of the legislature) has 47 members, elected in single-seat constituencies. 

Results of Last Election:

National Assembly - Mar. 24, 2008

	Vote%	Seats
Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (DPT)	67.04%	45
People’s Democratic Party (PDP)	32.96%	2

 

 

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