Bhutanese National Council election, 2007–2008

Infobox Election
election_name = Bhutanese National Council election, 2007–2008
country = Bhutan
type = legislative
ongoing = no
previous_election=
previous_year =
next_election =
next_year =
seats_for_election = 20 (of the 30) seats to the National Council
election_date = December 31, 2007 and January 29, 2008


leader1 =
party1 = None
seats1 = 20
seat_change1 =


leader2 =
party2 = Appointed
seats2 = 10
seat_change2 = The general elections to the National Council of Bhutan, the upper house of the new bicameral Parliament of Bhutan were held for the first time on December 31, 2007, [ [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200712271241.htm The Hindu News Update Service ] ] though they were originally scheduled for December 26, 2007. [ [http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=332d414a-560e-42f6-b445-9a5c0485581e&MatchID1=4586&TeamID1=1&TeamID2=8&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1151&MatchID2=4588&TeamID3=3&TeamID4=5&MatchType2=1&SeriesID2=1152&PrimaryID=4586&Headline=National+Council+elections+on+December+26 National Council elections on December 26] , "Hindustan Times", 2007-10-21, accessed on 2007-12-30] The National Council of Bhutan will consist of 25 members, out of which 20 members will be directly elected from 20 dzongkhags by 312,817 elegible voters, [ [http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9480 312,817 voters on final electoral roll] ] and five more will be nominated by the "Druk Gyalpo" (king). Nominations had to be filed by November 27, 2007, and the campaigning for 15 of the 20 dzongkhags took place from November 30, 2007 until December 31, 2007. [ [http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/128222.html Bhutan upper house polls on Dec 26 : Asia World ] ] .

The elections were not held in five dzongkhags (Thimphu, Trashiyangtse, Gasa, Haa and Lhuntse) on December 31, 2007 since they either did not have any candidate or had only a single candidate till the last date for filing the nominations and the election rules state that there should be at least two candidates for each dzongkhag, otherwise the election would be postponed for that particular dzongkhag. [http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9477 Upper House has lower profile] ] The elections in these five dzongkhags were held on January 29, 2008. [ [http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9504 Another shot at selection] ]

Election procedure

In contrast to the National Assembly's 47 party-based members, the National Council members are not elected on a party basis and are meant to be eminent people from civil society. The two conditions laid down for the candidature for the National Council of Bhutan are the non-affiliation to any political party and the minimum qualification of graduation from a university. The candidates for a particular dzongkhag are selected through the "zomdu"s (meetings) convened in each gewog of that dzongkhag specifically for this purpose. [ [http://www.election-bhutan.org.bt/NC/notie.pdf Notification: National Council Elections 2007] ]

Candidates

43 candidates contested in 15 dzongkhags in the election held on December 31, 2007. [ [http://nz.news.yahoo.com/071231/5/3gcp.html Bhutan steps towards democracy] ] [ [http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/dec/27/bhutan_ready_historic_parliamentary_polls.html Bhutan ready for historic parliamentary polls | Indian Muslims ] ] The highest number of candidates were in Samtse, Dagana, Mongar and Paro with four candidates each. Samdrup Jongkhar, Sarpang, Trongsa, Punakha and Trashigang had three candidates each. Chukha, Pemagatsel, Tsirang, Bumthang, Wangduephodrang and Zhemgang had two candidates each. [http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9477 Upper House has lower profile] ]

A total of 48 candidates filed their nominations for this election till November 27, 2007. The names of these candidates are: [http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9477 Upper House has lower profile] ]

In the remaining five dzongkhags, the following candidates were elected: [ [http://www.kuenselonline.com/ncelections/ Bhutan NC Elections ] ]

:† elected unopposed

References