| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Chi Tshog / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Gyelyong Tshogde / National Council |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Tshogdu / National Assembly
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
23 April 2013 |
| Purpose of elections |
A total of 67 candidates stood for the second elections to the 25-member National Council. At stake were 20 seats; the five remaining seats being appointed by the King. All candidates ran as independents since, unlike the National Assembly, membership of the National Council is not party-based. Candidates' programmes included upholding democracy, ensuring good governance, peace and security or increasing Gross National Happiness (see note). Six of the 14 outgoing members were re-elected. Although three women had been elected to the previous legislature, none of the five women candidates were successful in 2013.
Note:
Gross National Happiness (GNH) is described at www.grossnationalhappiness.com. It measures material and spiritual development as well as economic development. The concept dates back to the 1729 legal code, which declared that "if the Government cannot create happiness (dekid) for its people, there is no purpose for the Government to exist". |
Date of previous elections: 31 December 2007 and 29 January 2008
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 29 April 2013
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: April 2018
Number of seats at stake: 20 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 67 (62 men, 5 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 7.5%
Number of parties contesting the election: N/A
Membership of the National Council is not party-based.
Number of parties winning seats: N/A
Alternation of power: N/A
Number of parties in government: N/A
Names of parties in government: N/A
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 10 May 2013
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Sonam Kinga |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 23 April 2013 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
379'819
171'544 (45.16%)
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
23
2
8.00%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Note on the distribution of seats according to sex:
No women were elected in 2013 but two were appointed by the King.
Sources:
National Council (03.05.2013, 28.05.2013)
http://www.election-bhutan.org.bt/NCResult2013/index.html
http://www.nationalcouncil.bt/members/ |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
