List of political parties in Bhutan
Encyclopedia
Bhutan
, which first made moves to become democratic in 2007, has two registered political parties
.
The People's Democratic Party was founded on March 24, 2007. The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa came into being as a merger of the Bhutan People's United Party and the All People's Party
on July 25, 2007. Both of these parties have been registered with the Election Commission of Bhutan
(ECB). However, the application of the Bhutan People's United Party (revived again by a breakaway faction of Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) for registration was rejected by the ECB on November 27, 2007.
The Druk National Congress was formed in exile in Kathmandu, Nepal
on June 16, 1994.
On August 26, 2010, Bhutanese political parties in exile formed an umbrella group to pursue a "unified democratic movement led by Rongthong Kunley Dorji, President of the Druk National Congress. The group's offices opened in Kathmandu in November 2010, and it seems to receive some measure of support from the Nepalese government
.
. The Constitution sets forth a multi-party system
under which two parties at a time occupy either ruling or opposition positions in the National Assembly
. All other government bodies are non-partisan. Substantive and procedural requirements for all political parties, such as registration, are codified in Article 15. The Article also sets forth sets of mandated and prohibited practices, two examples of the latter being receipt of money or assistance from outside Bhutan and political association on the basis of religion, region, or ethnicity.
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
, which first made moves to become democratic in 2007, has two registered political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
.
Officially registered political parties
Bhutan has two political parties that are officially registered:- People's Democratic PartyPeople's Democratic Party (Bhutan)The People's Democratic Party is one of the major political parties in Bhutan, formed on March 24, 2007. The founder president of this party is Sangay Ngedup, the former prime minister and agriculture minister of the Royal Government of Bhutan...
- Bhutan Peace and Prosperity PartyBhutan Peace and Prosperity PartyThe Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party, or Druk Phuensum Tshogpa , is one of the major political parties in Bhutan. It was formed on July 25, 2007 as a merger of the All People's Party and the Bhutan People's United Party, which were both short-lived...
The People's Democratic Party was founded on March 24, 2007. The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa came into being as a merger of the Bhutan People's United Party and the All People's Party
All People's Party (Bhutan)
The All People's Party is a former political party in Bhutan. Its leader was former and future Prime Minister Jigme Y. Thinley.On July 25, 2007, The relatively strong APP merged with the failing Bhutan People's Unity Party, led by former lyonpo Yeshey Zimba; the two parties unified as the Bhutan...
on July 25, 2007. Both of these parties have been registered with the Election Commission of Bhutan
Elections in Bhutan
Elections in Bhutan are conducted at national and local levels. Suffrage is universal for citizens 18 and over, and under applicable election laws...
(ECB). However, the application of the Bhutan People's United Party (revived again by a breakaway faction of Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) for registration was rejected by the ECB on November 27, 2007.
Other political parties
The following parties are all based in exile, many of them identified as extremist or terrorist groups for their involvements in bomb blasts and militancy.- Bhutan Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist)Bhutan Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist)The Bhutan Communist Party is a banned political party in Bhutan. The CPB calls for a New Democratic Revolution and the overthrow of the Bhutanese monarchy and the House of Wangchuck. Its armed wing is the Bhutan Tiger Force and United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan...
- Bhutan Democratic Socialist Party
- Bhutan Gorkha National Liberation Front
- Bhutan National Congress
- Bhutan National Democratic Party
- Bhutan National PartyBhutan National PartyThe Bhutan National Party is a former Bhutanese political party formed to contest the Himalayan nation's 2008 general election. The party was an alliance of former civil servants, defense officials and businessmen....
- Bhutan Peoples' PartyBhutan Peoples' PartyThe Bhutan Peoples' Party is a democratic socialist party in Bhutan, currently working in exile in Nepal. Founded on June 2, 1990 in West Bengal, it was the first political party in Bhutan...
- Bhutan Tiger ForceBhutan Tiger ForceThe Bhutan Tiger Force is allegedly the armed wing of the Bhutan Communist Party .-Sources:* South Asian Terrorism Portal* BBC News* Kuensel Online . 18 Feb 2008....
- Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee
- Druk National Congress
The Druk National Congress was formed in exile in Kathmandu, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
on June 16, 1994.
On August 26, 2010, Bhutanese political parties in exile formed an umbrella group to pursue a "unified democratic movement led by Rongthong Kunley Dorji, President of the Druk National Congress. The group's offices opened in Kathmandu in November 2010, and it seems to receive some measure of support from the Nepalese government
Government of Nepal
The Government of Nepal, or Nepal Government, is the executive body and the Central government of Nepal. Prior to the abolition of Monarchy in Nepal, was officially known as His Majesty's Government....
.
Legal status
Political parties are regulated under the Constitution of 2008Constitution of Bhutan
The Constitution of Bhutan was enacted July 18, 2008 by the Royal Government. The Constitution was thoroughly planned by several government officers and agencies over a period of almost seven years amid increasing democratic reforms in Bhutan...
. The Constitution sets forth a multi-party system
Multi-party system
A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition, e.g.The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in the United Kingdom formed in 2010. The effective number of parties in a multi-party system is normally...
under which two parties at a time occupy either ruling or opposition positions in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Bhutan
The National Assembly is the elected lower house of Bhutan's new bicameral Parliament which also comprises the Druk Gyalpo and the National Council. It is the more powerful house.- Current National Assembly :...
. All other government bodies are non-partisan. Substantive and procedural requirements for all political parties, such as registration, are codified in Article 15. The Article also sets forth sets of mandated and prohibited practices, two examples of the latter being receipt of money or assistance from outside Bhutan and political association on the basis of religion, region, or ethnicity.