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Democracy Comes to Bhutan

Tiny kingdom peacefully shifts to constitutional monarchy

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 24, 2008 12:41 PM CDT

(Newser) – The people of Bhutan went to the polls for the first time today, ending a century of absolute monarchy. Some voters were uneasy about the transition, AFP reports. “We are very happy,” said one. But “sometimes we worry because it’s a new system.” In an unexpectedly strong showing, the Bhutan United Party captured 44 of the 47 seats in the lower house of parliament.

Bhutan’s monarchy is very popular, and King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck himself insisted on instituting democracy. He's expected to retain some power. That's fine with the population, which is largely behind the monarchy’s longstanding “Gross National Happiness” policy. Still, many are excited about the new system. “It’s a proud moment for us because of the way democracy has started,” said one voter. “We didn’t have to fight for it.”

[Images (8)]

[Videos (1)]

Bhutanese people queue up to cast their votes at a polling station in Thimphu, Bhutan, Monday, March 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A Bhutanese woman with voter identity card stands in a queue to cast her vote at a polling station, in Thimphu, Bhutan, Monday, March 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Bhutanese women queue up to cast their votes outside a polling station, in Sisna, on the outskirts of Thimphu, Bhutan, Monday, March 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A Bhutanese refugee Prem Kala Budhathoki, left, waits at the International Organization for Migration Transit Camp for resettlement, in Katmandu, Nepal, Monday, March 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Binod Joshi)

A Bhutanese woman casts her vote at a polling station in Thimphu, Bhutan, Monday, March 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Bhutanese women in their traditional dress queue up to cast their votes outside a polling station, in Sisna, on the outskirts of Thimphu, Bhutan, Monday, March 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A person helps an elderly Bhutanese woman to show a photographer the ink mark on her finger, which indicates casting of her vote outside a polling station in Thimphu, Bhutan, Monday, March 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Bhutanese people queue up to cast their votes outside a polling station in Thimphu, Bhutan, Monday, March 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

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Democracy Comes to Bhutan