29 Nov 2023: Bhutan goes to polls tomorrow for the primary round of lower house election. Yes, Kingdom of Bhutan is constitutional democratic monarchy. It has only been 15 years and 3 governments since transition from the absolute monarchy.

And no, people did not ask for democracy – it was gift from the then King. His Majesty the 4th Druk Gyalpo King Jigme Singye Wangchuck had to order some of the people to accept the democracy that he was instituting. When years before 2008 when the first elections was held, His Majesty went about the country talking about elections and doing on consultation rounds on the new constitution that His Majesty was bringing about – people time and again asked the King to reconsider giving up the reins over the government. Among many other protections, the new constitution had (and has) mechanism to have vote of no confidence of the kings of Bhutan and possible removal.

Besides removing the throne from being the head of the government, the new constitution put in unique formation of Executive with bicameral form of parliament and yet having non-partisan as well as party based aspects to it. Perhaps learning from systems when all chambers are partisan based often becoming polarized, the upper house is non-partisan regional based – representing all districts of the country, while the lower house is party based. The lower house is formed though primary and general elections to bring about two parties for the five year term in the roles of ruling and opposition parties. The ruling party with majority in the general elections form the executive – the council of minister, whose nomination becomes the Prime Minister.

Now, on the eve of the fourth primary elections to select the top two from the five parties competing now, we are at the verge of seeing which two parties will have chance in the general elections (set for the January) to put forward the candidature for the Prime Minister.

We have come long way since His Majesty the Fourth King then held mock elections so that people knew the process, we now hope that we imbue the spirit with which His Majesty brought about these changes, for it is not about power but chance to serve and sacrifice. His Majesty the 4th King stepped down 2 years before the elections and new system that he pushed for years before then.

It is hard not be instilled with such a spirit for His Majesty’s enlightened intention can be felt and lived in the system like public financing for political parties (so that those coming to power do not get compromised along the way), no influence from the throne or the royal family with neutral stance, no participation by monks or religious authority who have general sway in a country whose way of life is of spirituality. As a Bhutanese, we have been given best chance to instill and live the highest ideals of democracy.

(By Original Bhutan)