Election lessons...

Congratulations to the newly elected thrompons of Gelephu, Phuentsholing, Samdrupjongkhar and Thimphu thromdes. Congratulations also to the elected tshogpas of the four thromdes. The elections of the four thromde tshogdes (city councils) represent the first local government elections held under the auspices of the Constitution. So, the elections also underscore Bhutan’s determined journey to a [...]

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Posted by Tshering Tobgay in Democracy on January 24, 2011 8:23 am | 17 Comments

No blank cheque!...

Business Bhutan recently reported that the prime minister had expressed his frustrations over interpretations of the constitution that were undermining the government’s work. The PM was quoted as saying: I feel very emotional because we are the democratically elected government with a huge majority which means people have placed their trust fully in us but [...]

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Posted by Tshering Tobgay in Democracy, Government on December 22, 2010 3:17 pm | 16 Comments

Felicitating the Judiciary...

The High Court has rendered judgment on Bhutan’s first constitutional case. The esteemed Court ruled that the taxes imposed by the government earlier this year are unlawful, and ordered the government to refund those taxes. The Court also issued an injunction preventing the government from raising taxes without the Parliament’s approval. The High Court’s landmark [...]

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Posted by Tshering Tobgay in Democracy, Justice on November 22, 2010 11:19 pm | 12 Comments

A voting matter...

India’s electronic voting machines have come under some scrutiny by the media, civil society, politicians and voters. Since we use the same voting machines, our chief election commissioner, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi, clarified that the recent questions surrounding the integrity of the EVMs are: … nothing to worry about. “I’m not concerned because I’ve seen many [...]

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Posted by Tshering Tobgay in Democracy on October 22, 2010 1:14 pm | 8 Comments

Answering Sonam...

Sonam’s question generated a good deal of discussions. And, most of you argued that we, elected officials – ministers and MPs alike – should not wear our kabneys and patangs after completing our terms in office. Similarly, almost all of you who took the poll that asked, “Should elected MPs and ministers continue to wear [...]

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Posted by Tshering Tobgay in Culture, Democracy on May 24, 2010 8:36 am | 22 Comments

Visiting Sombaykha...

“It must be very difficult”, I’ve been told more than once, “having only two members in the opposition.” Yes, it is difficult. And frustrating. But it is enjoyable too. What do I enjoy most about my work? Visiting my constituency. Trekking through Sombaykha, Gakiling and the parts of Samma that don’t have motor roads are [...]

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Posted by Tshering Tobgay in Democracy on January 10, 2010 8:35 pm | 6 Comments

Hijacking democracy...

BBS reports that the Prime Minister, in his National Day address in Mongar, cautioned the people about threats to our democracy. On democracy, the Prime Minister said the threats to democracy are mainly from within, reminding the people to be aware of divisive politics for personal gain. He said in many countries in the world, [...]

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Posted by Tshering Tobgay in Democracy, Government on December 18, 2009 6:15 pm | 41 Comments

Paying attention...

When did you first know that democracy would be introduced in our country? That was the question I asked in my last entry. No one ventured a definite date. One reader, however, admitted that it was a “tough question” while others questioned the relevance and importance of the question. Relevant or not, I think I [...]

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Posted by Tshering Tobgay in Democracy, Monarchy on October 23, 2009 10:27 pm | No Comments

When did we know?...

HM4

Last week, Bhutan successfully hosted the first Regional Conference on Deepening and Sustaining Democracy in Asia. The Centre for Bhutan Studies and UNDP Bhutan organized the event together. That Bhutan, the world’s youngest democracy, led a major international discussion on deepening democratic values is commendable. It shows how much we’ve matured, politically, since the introduction [...]

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Posted by Tshering Tobgay in Democracy, Monarchy on October 19, 2009 2:57 pm | 7 Comments

Your opposition party...

Part two of the speech I would have delivered to the 2009 graduates: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Many people think that the opposition party is ineffective. That’s okay. After all, we are most probably the world’s smallest opposition. With only two members – Dasho Damcho and I – against the ruling party’s 45, we can easily be overwhelmed [...]

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Posted by Tshering Tobgay in Democracy on October 2, 2009 12:08 am | 16 Comments

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