Bhutanese monarch Jigme Singye Wangchuck (Photo source:traveloscopy.com)
Bhutanese monarch Jigme Singye Wangchuck (Photo source:traveloscopy.com)
In what is seen as a surprising development, Bhutanese monarch has announced that he will hand over power to his son and conduct first parliamentary elections in 2008.
In March this year, the Buddhist kingdom published a draft constitution that aimed to set up a two-party democracy after nearly a century of absolute monarchy put in place with British support in 1907.
“I would like our people to know that the first national election to elect a government under a system of parliamentary democracy will take place in 2008,” online edition of Kuensel, the state-run Bhutanese newspaper quoted King Jigme Singye Wangchuck as telling a public rally in the town of Trashiyangtse.
The Bhutanese king said his son, Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, would take over from him in 2008.
“It is my wish and prayer that during the reign of Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the Palden Drukpa (Bhutan) will remain strong and glorious … and the hopes and aspirations of our people will be fulfilled,” Wangchuck said. (See: Full Text)
Wangchuck became king in 1972 at the age of 16 after his father’s death.
In 2001, he initiated the drafting of a new constitution to eventually replace a half-century-old royal decree under which Bhutan has been run.
The draft calls for a two-chamber parliament — a 75-member National Assembly and a 25-member National Council.
The king would remain head of state, but parliament would have the power to impeach him on a two-thirds vote.
In his speech, the Bhutanese king did not mention anything about the plight of over 100,000 Bhutanese citizens who are languishing as refugees in seven UNHCR-maintained camps in eastern Nepal for the last 15 years.
The refugee leaders have referred to the exercise to draft a new constitution as being nothing but an eyewash.
Bhutanese citizens have been asked to submit their views on the Bhutanese king’s plans to hand powers to a council of ministers, introduce a system of two-party democracy and subject the monarchy to a confidence vote.
The king said the election commission would educate the people in the democratic process over the next two years.
“I have every confidence that our people will be able to choose the best political party that can provide good governance and serve the interest of the nation,” he said.
Wangchuck gave no indication of how much power would remain with the monarch.
There was no immediate comment from the Bhutanese refugee leaders over the latest announcement by the Bhutanese king.