Bhutanese National Council election, 2007–2008
Encyclopedia
The general elections to the National Council of Bhutan
, the upper house
of the new bicameral Parliament of Bhutan
were held for the first time on December 31, 2007, though they were originally scheduled for December 26, 2007. The National Council of Bhutan
will consist of 25 members, out of which 20 members will be directly elected from 20 dzongkhag
s by 312,817 eligible voters, and five more will be nominated by the Druk Gyalpo (king). Nominations had to be filed by November 27, 2007, and the campaigning for 15 of the 20 dzongkhags took place from November 30, 2007 until December 31, 2007.
The elections were not held in five dzongkhags (Thimphu, Trashiyangtse, Gasa, Haa and Lhuntse) on December 31, 2007 since they either did not have any candidate or had only a single candidate till the last date for filing the nominations and the election rules state that there should be at least two candidates for each dzongkhag, otherwise the election would be postponed for that particular dzongkhag. The elections in these five dzongkhags were held on January 29, 2008.
's 47 party-based members, the National Council members are not elected on a party basis and are meant to be eminent people from civil society. The two conditions laid down for the candidature for the National Council of Bhutan are the non-affiliation to any political party and the minimum qualification of graduation from a university. The candidates for a particular dzongkhag
are selected through the zomdus (meetings) convened in each gewog
of that dzongkhag specifically for this purpose.
A total of 48 candidates filed their nominations for this election till November 27, 2007. The names of these candidates are:
The candidature of Thinley Dorji from Chapcha gewog of Chukha dzongkhag was canceled by the Election Commission of Bhutan (because of his affiliation to a political party) on December 7, 2007.
After an additional nomination period, the candidates for the five dzongkhags which had postponed their elections were as follows:
In the remaining five dzongkhags, the following candidates were elected:
National Council of Bhutan
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...
, the upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
of the new bicameral Parliament of Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
were held for the first time on December 31, 2007, though they were originally scheduled for December 26, 2007. The National Council of Bhutan
National Council of Bhutan
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...
will consist of 25 members, out of which 20 members will be directly elected from 20 dzongkhag
Dzongkhag
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 , which themselves comprise two or more gewogs...
s by 312,817 eligible voters, and five more will be nominated by the Druk Gyalpo (king). Nominations had to be filed by November 27, 2007, and the campaigning for 15 of the 20 dzongkhags took place from November 30, 2007 until December 31, 2007.
The elections were not held in five dzongkhags (Thimphu, Trashiyangtse, Gasa, Haa and Lhuntse) on December 31, 2007 since they either did not have any candidate or had only a single candidate till the last date for filing the nominations and the election rules state that there should be at least two candidates for each dzongkhag, otherwise the election would be postponed for that particular dzongkhag. The elections in these five dzongkhags were held on January 29, 2008.
Election procedure
In contrast to the National AssemblyNational Assembly of Bhutan
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.- Current National Assembly :...
's 47 party-based members, the National Council members are not elected on a party basis and are meant to be eminent people from civil society. The two conditions laid down for the candidature for the National Council of Bhutan are the non-affiliation to any political party and the minimum qualification of graduation from a university. The candidates for a particular dzongkhag
Dzongkhag
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 , which themselves comprise two or more gewogs...
are selected through the zomdus (meetings) convened in each gewog
Gewog
A gewog, or geog refers to a group of villages in Bhutan. Gewogs form a geographic administrative unit below dzongkhag districts , and above thromde municipalities. Bhutan comprises 205 gewogs, which average 230 km² in area...
of that dzongkhag specifically for this purpose.
Candidates
43 candidates contested in 15 dzongkhags in the election held on December 31, 2007. The highest number of candidates were in Samtse, Dagana, Mongar and Paro with four candidates each. Samdrup Jongkhar, Sarpang, Trongsa, Punakha and Trashigang had three candidates each. Chukha, Pemagatsel, Tsirang, Bumthang, Wangduephodrang and Zhemgang had two candidates each.A total of 48 candidates filed their nominations for this election till November 27, 2007. The names of these candidates are:
| Dzongkhag | | Gewog | | Candidate |
|---|---|---|
| Bumthang | Chhoekhor | Jigme Palden |
| Bumthang | Ura | Tshewang Jurmin |
| Chukha | Bongo | Sonam Dorji Wangchuk |
| Chukha | Bjachho | Tshewang Lhamo |
| Chukha | Chapcha | Thinley Dorji |
| Dagana | Kana | Sonam Dorji |
| Dagana | Drujeygang | Kesang Dema |
| Dagana | Tshendeygang | Mongal Singh Gurung |
| Dagana | Lhamoyzingkha | Krishna Bahadur Tamang |
| Gasa | None | |
| Haa | Bji | Tshering Dorji |
| Lhuntse | Khoma | Rinzin Dorji |
| Mongar | Silambi | Choki Drakpa |
| Mongar | Saling | Naichu |
| Mongar | Chali | Pema Tenzin |
| Mongar | Chaskhar | Pema Wangdi |
| Paro | Dopshari | Ugyen Tshering |
| Paro | Lango | Ugyen Tshering |
| Paro | Wangchang | Phub Dorji |
| Paro | Lungnyi | Jambay |
| Pema Gatshel | Dechenling | Sangay Tempa |
| Pema Gatshel | Shumar | Jigme Rinzin |
| Punakha | Goen Shari | Namgay Penjore |
| Punakha | Kabjisa | Sangay Phurba |
| Punakha | Talo | Namgay Ratty Dorji |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | Orong | Kuenga Dorji |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | Deothang | Sangay Lhendup |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | Lauri | Jigme Wangchuk |
| Samtse | Dorokha | Chhatrapati Phuyel |
| Samtse | Chargaray | Mani Kumar Rai |
| Samtse | Bara | Lal Bahadur Gurung |
| Samtse | Tendu | Bishnu Lal Gurung |
| Sarpang | Gelephu | Karma Donnen Wangdi |
| Sarpang | Shompangkha | Jamyang Sherub Wangdi |
| Sarpang | Dekiling | Dhan Bahadur Mongar |
| Thimphu | Thim Throm | Sangay Zam |
| Trashigang | Shongphu | Sonam Kuenga |
| Trashigang | Bidung | Tashi Tshering |
| Trashigang | Samkhar | Ngawang Jamtsho |
| Trashiyangtse | Yalang | Kezang Namgyal |
| Trongsa | Nubi | Namgay Wangchuk |
| Trongsa | Tangsibji | Jagar Dorji |
| Trongsa | Korphu | Chimi Dorji |
| Tsirang | Kikorthang | Pema Dukpa |
| Tsirang | Phuentenchhu | Justin Gurung |
| Wangduephodrang | Nyisho | Sonam Yangchen |
| Wangduephodrang | Phangyul | Kaka Dawa |
| Zhemgang | Trong | Pema Dhendup |
| Zhemgang | Nangkor | Pema Lhamo |
The candidature of Thinley Dorji from Chapcha gewog of Chukha dzongkhag was canceled by the Election Commission of Bhutan (because of his affiliation to a political party) on December 7, 2007.
After an additional nomination period, the candidates for the five dzongkhags which had postponed their elections were as follows:
| Dzongkhag | | Gewog | | Candidate |
|---|---|---|
| Gasa | Goenkhatey | Sangay Khandu |
| Haa | Bji | Tshering Dorji |
| Lhuentse | Khoma | Rinzin Dorji |
| Thimphu | ??? | Sangay Tsoki |
| Thimphu | Thim Throm | Sangay Zam |
| Trashiyangtse | ??? | Kelzang Wangdi |
| Trashiyangtse | Yalang | Kezang Namgyal |
| Trashiyangtse | ??? | Sherub Tenzin |
| Trashiyangtse | ??? | Ugyen Wangdi |
Results
The 15 members of the National Council of Bhutan who were elected on December 31, 2007 are:| Dzongkhag | |Gewog | |Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Bumthang | Ura | Tshewang Jurmin |
| Chukha | Bjachho | Tshewang Lhamo |
| Dagana | Kana | Sonam Dorji |
| Mongar | Saling | Naichu |
| Paro | Dopshari | Ugyen Tshering |
| Pema Gatshel | Shumar | Jigme Rinzin |
| Punakha | Goen Shari | Namgay Penjore |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | Lauri | Jigme Wangchuk |
| Samtse | Chargaray | Mani Kumar Rai |
| Sarpang | Gelephu | Karma Donnen Wangdi |
| Trashigang | Shongphu | Sonam Kuenga |
| Trongsa | Tangsibji | Jagar Dorji |
| Tsirang | Phuentenchhu | Justin Gurung |
| Wangdue Phodrang | Nyisho | Sonam Yangchen |
| Zhemgang | Nangkor | Pema Lhamo |
In the remaining five dzongkhags, the following candidates were elected:
| Dzongkhag | |Gewog | |Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Gasa | Goenkhatey | Sangay Khandu† |
| Haa | Bji | Tshering Dorji† |
| Lhuentse | Khoma | Rinzin Dorji† |
| Thimphu | Thim Throm | Sangay Zam |
| Trashiyangtse | Yalang | Kezang Namgyal |
- † elected unopposed