From rxpgnews.com
Lack of parties hits Bhutan's shift to democracy
By IANS,
Mar 23, 2007 - 1:33:17 PM
Thimphu, March 23 - Bhutan is all set to hold its first general elections next year, but there is a problem: there are no political parties!
Bhutan is concerned over the lack of political activity or formation of parties. In 2008, the Himalayan kingdom shifts from monarchy to parliamentary democracy.
'We would like to remind voters that there cannot be democracy and elections as envisaged in the constitution without the participation of multiple political parties in the primary round,' Dasho Kunzang Wangdi, Bhutan's chief election commissioner, said in a statement.
The commission has fixed July as the deadline for registration of political parties under the Political Party Formation rule, which requires a charter, agendas, office bearers, list of members and branch offices among others.
'All the fundamental machineries are in place, but there is no notable political activity taking place. There is urgency for more individuals to come forward and take up the responsibility of serving the nation through formation of political parties,' Wangdi said.
'There may not be a reasonable number of credible political parties participating in the electoral process, but parties need to do a lot of ground work and should begin in earnest,' he added.
Bhutan recently announced there would be 47 constituencies in the country, the members of which would be elected to the National Assembly or parliament in the first general elections.
'The existence of credible political parties is necessary to ensure that the nation has a sound political system. Parties must have the capacity to fulfil their roles as a credible ruling party or an effective opposition,' he said.
There would be a primary round of elections in 2008 when people can vote for a political party and not candidates. The two parties that receive the highest number of votes in the primary round could then field their candidates for the general elections as the winners becoming members of the National Assembly.
Former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck in December abdicated the throne in favour of his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, 26.
The transition began six years ago when the former king handed over the powers of daily government to a council of ministers and empowered the National Assembly to force a royal abdication if three-quarters of its membership backed the motion.
Bhutan in 2004 year unveiled a 34-point constitution, which was sent to some 530,000 citizens for their views. The constitution is to be ratified after a referendum.
Once adopted, the constitution will replace a royal decree of 1953 that gave the monarch absolute power.
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