You are here: RAO Home > Travel > Bhutan > Topics > Politics > Elections > Facts Search
Bhutan Information
Bhutan - Politics
Elections 2008
Bhutan Politics - Elections 2008
The 2008 Elections Procedure
The 2008 Elections Parties
Bhutan Politics
Prime Minister
Parliamentary Elections 2008
Grafik Grafik
Video Bhutan Videos
previous pageend
The 2008 Elections: Facts
Procedure
When Bhutanese above 18 years go to polls in the first general elections in 2008 would they participate in it intelligently and vote for the Bhutanese above 18 years would be voting twice when the elections for a new government begins in 2008 say election commission officials.

The first vote would be during the primary round and the second vote during the general elections.
In the primary round, the parties are contesting for maximum number of votes, in the general elections, the contest is for seats in parliament.
The present National Assembly would be dissolved 90 days before the elections and representatives to the parliament will be called Thumeys or Members of Parliament.
For instance, if Bhutan is divided into 60 constituencies, 120 candidates, one candidate each from the two parties would compete in the constituencies, representing their party. "People in the constituency will be voting for the candidate nominated by the party.
Parties that have been eliminated in the primary round could show support, at an informal level, to the winning parties but cannot merge with them.

top

Parties
A party should have a charter depending on the ideology or principle that it is going to adopt. The charter has to be excepted by the Election Commission when it is being registered
The party, which gets the maximum seats in parliament would form the government while the other would be the opposition.
Article 15 (9) of the Draft Constitution does not permit members of the National Assembly belonging to one party to defect to another party either individually or en bloc.
The draft Constitution says that public campaign financing would be provided by the state, parties could resort to private funding.
The party will have to present their manifesto during the running and active members of a party who would try to get a seat in the parliament would be assigned the duty of running.
Parties that have been eliminated in the primary round could show support, at an informal level, to the winning parties but cannot merge with them.
Political parties should compete strictly in accordance with the laws, respect the rights and freedom of others, and above all, should uphold the Constitution and abide by the code of conduct as laid down in the Election Act.
Source: Kuensel, Bhutan's National Newspaper, National Election Commission, 2006

more Information
Bhutan's new Constitution Bhutan's National Assembly

Links
External Links
Bhutan Government Election Commission
Grafik
top
previous page Bhutan Home