The parliamentary election held in Bhutan on 24 March 2008 marked the end of 100-year-old monarchy and unfolded the world’s newest democracy in South Asia by electing a royalist as Prime Minister. Jigmi Thinley’s party, Druk Phuensum Tashogpa (DTP), won 44 of the 47 seats. The incumbent attributed the mandate as ‘Victory for His Majesty.’

Unlike Nepal, Bhutan is still in a state of guided democracy with adequate handholding by the King. The early transition towards the adoption of democracy in the kingdom was paved in 2006 when King Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated the throne to favour his son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and appointed a board of ministers. Both father and son together took the lead in popularising the concept of democracy across the kingdom.

There is considerable surprise and appreciation over Bhutan’s easy transition to the realm of democracy without any social and political commotions. International observers expressed their awe and gratitude to the citizens of Bhutan for opening a new chapter in Bhutanese politics through this smooth conduct of elections. “The elections have been well organised and the Election Commission of Bhutan should be lauded”, said Ted Osius, US Political Minister Counsellor.

Encomiums flowed from all parts of the world including a UN observer who praised Bhutan’s smooth transition to democracy. Says Pushpinder Dhillon, First Secretary, US Embassy, New Delhi: “The whole election process has been well planned and it is really great to see eagerness of the voters to come out and cast their votes.”

Exclusionary Politics

Bhutan, a country double the size of Israel is flanked by India and China; it practiced somewhat of an exclusionary politics so far. It has earned sufficient media spin for its efforts in preservation of its indigenous culture and slow modernisation. The ‘land of the thunder dragon’, a Buddhist Shangri-La that champions the royal philosophy of ‘gross national happiness’ rather than gross national product, is the only country that has banned smoking, and has two-thirds of its land under forest cover.

Since civilisation, this SAARC country has strictly safeguarded its costumes, traditions, and national identity in a wonderful manner. Even television started only in 1999 with due curbs on telecast of programmes. People are restricted to wear traditional attires round the clock at public places as well as ceremonial functions.

Successful Polling

What has earned brownie points is that polling across the kingdom went off peacefully with tighter security in border towns. The Election Commission of Bhutan had made it clear that it would allow voters to cast votes only in their birthplaces. This resulted in the near desertion of capital Thimpu with majority of them returning to their native places to vote.

The electoral turnout was 79 percent and out of the 3,18,000 eligible voters. The voters elected 47 members of the lower house of parliament while 20 members of the upper house were already elected earlier this year.

Winners and Losers

The winner in the election was DTP. It is widely perceived as the most loyal party to the monarchy. But observers do not see much difference between the two competing parties who fought to lead the democracy in Bhutan. The rival, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), could win only three seats in the National Assembly and is the main opposition party now. Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, also known as the Bhutan Prosperity Party, put up a poor show.

According to DPT spokesman Palden Tshering, “No one expected such a landslide. What I can say is the people have decided. They looked at the two parties and probably figured out that our party is a party that could possibly give them the government envisioned by His Majesty, one that is stable, one that is strong, and one that will lay the foundation for the next hundred years.”

Though the Election Commission said the voting was peaceful and orderly, with only minor problems, it was not without criticism too. Members of the ethnic Nepalese community complained that they were barred from voting. More than 100,000 ethnic Nepalese, who are mainly Hindu, were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990’s and are living as refugees in eastern Nepal and waiting to be repatriated to Bhutan.

Cautious Optimism

There is considerable joy and excitement over the new political system and great expectations on how it is going to deliver. But people have witnessed tyrannical democratic governments and many of them crumbling in neighbouring nations. That is why many people in Bhutan ask the question, “When pot is not broken, why mend it?” implying that when they had few complaints about the King, where was the need to do a makeover to democracy?

The transition to democracy is in sync with King Jigme’s philosophy of ‘Gross National Happiness’ for development, protection of environment, preservation of culture and good government.

There is consensus and hope that this ‘new chapter’ in the polity of Bhutan will spread prosperity and development in all walks of life. Druk Yul or the ‘Land of Thunder Dragon’ is the name traditionally given to Bhutan for its roaring storms flowing down from the Himalayas. Like the Himalayan storms, it is believed that democratic form of government will sweep across Bhutan and accelerate its engagement with the world at large. The plan to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) can be a harbinger to that.

Though sceptics fear that the new political change in the country will cast a shadow on the country’s age-old traditional setting, there is a view that it will expand its influence globally.

New Team

The newly elected Jigmi Kinley, who twice served as premier under the royal rule, hews closely to the king’s vision. His new government vows to follow the latest Five-Year Plan—they call it ‘His Majesty’s Vision.’ The former king’s son, the Oxford-educated Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, will remain Head of State and may retain his power.

More or less, the newly ushered democratic government will tread the path enuciated by the King and ‘Gross National Happiness’—the all encompassing political philosophy of seeking to balance material progress with spiritual well being of Bhutan will remain the basic tenet of governance.