ANSWERING MEDIA: Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley (left) addresses media representatives in Thimphu. — AFP photo
THIMPHU: The tiny Himalayan country of Bhutan begins electing a new parliament today for only the second time in its history, five years after the Buddhist monarchy gave up its absolute power.
Voters will first choose members of the upper house National Council today, a non-party body, then in the following weeks will decide which of five parties will form the next government in the National Assembly.
Since the beginning of April, the 67 candidates for the 20 elected National Council seats – five more members will be appointed by King Jigme Khesar Wanchuk – have been holding debates and public meetings in their respective districts after a local selection process.
In the more remote areas, villagers have walked for hours, or even days, to attend the forums and question the candidates at first hand, and election staff have made similar long treks to set up and staff polling stations in hamlets inaccessible by road.
Election officials were making a fourth attempt yesterday to reach Lunana in the far north by means of Indian military helicopters after bad weather frustrated the first three tries.
Tuesday has been declared a public holiday and Bhutan’s land borders will be closed for 24 hours over the election period.
While interest is reported to be high, confusion persists about parliament’s role in a hierarchical country with an illiteracy rate of some 50 per cent, where for decades the monarchy’s word has been law and is still deeply revered.
There have also been grumblings about the obligation for the candidates to make their pitches in the national language, dzhonka, which is one of half-a-dozen tongues spoken in Bhutan and not well understood in many rural areas.
The National Council, whose members have no party affiliation, monitors the actions of the government, reviews legislation and advises the king. — AFP