View Full Version : Bhutan Holds Elections
CountArach
03-24-2008, 00:11
Maybe not big news in the world, but still:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/24/2197189.htm?section=justin
The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan will become the world's newest democracy after historic elections today.
Voters in the tiny Buddhist state, wedged between India and China, will be electing MPs for a lower house of parliament.
The vote will end the century-old rule of the hugely popular Wangchuck dynasty.
Former king Jigme Wangchuck has four wives, all sisters, and coined the expression 'gross national happiness'.
He pushed Bhutan down the path to democracy in 2001 by handing over day-to-day government affairs to a Council of Ministers.
His son and successor has been urging Bhutanese to get out and vote.
But there is still huge nostalgia for royal rule and suspicion about what benefit democracy will deliver to a kingdom known as the 'Land of the Thunder Dragon'.
Congratulations people of Bhutan!
seireikhaan
03-24-2008, 00:20
Way to go, Mr. Wangchuck! (that's just waiting for a pun from Gregoshi:sweatdrop: )
Was just reading this in the local paper. Glad the king decided to push for this without external pressure. Still gotta laugh at his Gross National Happiness indicator for progress though, not stupid just a bit funny.
Tristuskhan
03-24-2008, 14:34
One year ago if I remember well there was a fake election in Buthan. To check if the population was able to understand what "voting" means. there was a fake campaign with "blue", "red" and "yellow" parties. Everything went alright, Buthaneses can make the difference and make a choice between different colors.
After this glorious intro, now to the True Elections!
Funny country, despite the fact that I probably would not like to be a subject of the King of Buthan.
Oleander Ardens
03-24-2008, 19:01
As I love the Himalaya and its people I find it an interesting project. A good deal of the Buthanes have actually studied abroad and are well aware of the difficulities of this process. Hopefully they can conserve a great deal of their rich heritage,their beautiful landscape and their happiness.
According to Wikipedia, a little more than 670,000 souls live in the country.
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8810/bhutan2ih5.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/HaaValley.jpg
Huzzah. :bhutan:
CountArach
03-24-2008, 21:21
Wow, what a beautiful country.
According to wikipedia, the results are in:
"Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party - 44 seats
People's Democratic Party - 3 seats
Total votes (turnout 79.4%)
An impressive turnout indeed.
Wow, what a beautiful country.
According to wikipedia, the results are in:
"Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party - 44 seats
People's Democratic Party - 3 seats
Total votes (turnout 79.4%)
An impressive turnout indeed.
Okay, so the party with the nice name won, while the one with the err, (demo what?) lost. :beam:
Evil_Maniac From Mars
03-26-2008, 00:54
The monarch is immensely popular in Bhutan, and I don't think the Bhutanese will elect a party that does not favour the royals for a long time. This isn't a bad thing, in my opinion. That family has ruled Bhutan well. :bow:
Kralizec
03-26-2008, 00:57
Wow, an Asian country that has fewer people in it than the Netherlands :dizzy2:
Anyway, good for them.
Tristuskhan
03-26-2008, 00:59
The monarch is immensely popular in Bhutan, and I don't think the Bhutanese will elect a party that does not favour the royals for a long time. This isn't a bad thing, in my opinion. That family has ruled Bhutan well. :bow:
It's been a long time since I've heard of Bhutan... Has the Wise King removed the law that made the Buthanese national costume compulsory even for the Nepalese minority?
gibsonsg91921
03-26-2008, 01:29
Haha
Everybody Wangchuck tonight!
Everybody have fun tonight!
Democracy and noble monarchs make my heart happy.
Big_John
03-26-2008, 01:31
anyone interested in a small glimpse inside bhutan should check out this movie (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LS-GR1nRM4). the trailer is kind of meh, but the movie is fantastic. i found a copy at the local library.
Evil_Maniac From Mars
03-26-2008, 01:55
It's been a long time since I've heard of Bhutan... Has the Wise King removed the law that made the Buthanese national costume compulsory even for the Nepalese minority?
The Nepalese minority is just fine - indeed, some have been elected into parliament, according to the BBC.
Quirinus
03-28-2008, 11:03
The Wangchuks are one of the few so-called 'royal families' that I actually respect. My local paper quotes the current King as arguing, "You may have a good King now, but what if you have a bad king a few decades down the road?"
Bravo, Mr. Wangchuk. :bow:
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