PDP Wins Bhutan Parliamentary Elections, Tshering Tobgay to be PM for 2nd Time

Bhutan’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is all set to form the new government in the Himalayan nation as it has won 30 out of the 47 National Assembly seats. Tshering Tobgay, who leads the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is expected to become prime minister for the second time. The Bhutan Tendrel Party will seat in the opposition with 17 seats.

This was Bhutan’s fourth general election since it became a parliamentary democracy from a traditional monarchy 15 years back.

Al Jazeera reported that both major parties in the election were committed to a constitutionally enshrined philosophy of a government that measures its success by the “happiness and wellbeing of the people”.

PDP’s Tshering Tobgay sees Bhutan’s “unprecedented economic challenges and mass exodus”, Al Jazeera reported, adding that the PDP manifesto cited government statistics showing that one in every eight people were “struggling to meet their basic needs for food” and other necessities.

Bhutan embraced democracy with its first elections in 2008, two years after former king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, abdicated in favour of his Oxford-educated son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.