Bhutan on top of the world

THIMPHU – The new political party set to run Bhutan’s first democratic government promised yesterday to be “guided by the past” after a stunning victory that saw it sweep historic polls in the Himalayan nation.

The world’s newest democracy gave a landslide election win on Monday to the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) or Bhutan United Party, led by an ex-premier who has pledged to boost development – and happiness – in the Himalayan nation. The party won 44 of 47 seats in the lower house in a landmark vote proposed by Bhutan’s royals in a move to peacefully transform the tiny Buddhist nation, wedged between massive neighbours India and China, into a constitutional monarchy.The sweep stunned even the victorious party, which differed only slightly from its rival – both parties are staunchly loyal to the royal family and both promised to stick with Gross National Happiness to measure growth.Party leader Jigmi Thinley – expected to become prime minister – was in his constituency in eastern Bhutan and could not be reached for comment.A US-educated two-time former premier under previous royal governments, Thinley, 55, is one of the architects of the Switzerland-sized nation’s efforts to measure its growth and prosperity in terms of happiness.His fixation on happiness may have swung the election in his party’s favour, one observer said, trumping the opposition’s family ties to the royals.”DPT’s vision and manifesto are completely based on the Gross National Happiness concept,” said Kinley Dorji, editor-in-chief of the national Kuensel newspaper.”They were seen to be a stronger advocate of the idea.”The Oxford-educated sovereign, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, was nevertheless expected to retain a strong influence over the running of the isolated country.Nampa-AFPThe party won 44 of 47 seats in the lower house in a landmark vote proposed by Bhutan’s royals in a move to peacefully transform the tiny Buddhist nation, wedged between massive neighbours India and China, into a constitutional monarchy.The sweep stunned even the victorious party, which differed only slightly from its rival – both parties are staunchly loyal to the royal family and both promised to stick with Gross National Happiness to measure growth.Party leader Jigmi Thinley – expected to become prime minister – was in his constituency in eastern Bhutan and could not be reached for comment.A US-educated two-time former premier under previous royal governments, Thinley, 55, is one of the architects of the Switzerland-sized nation’s efforts to measure its growth and prosperity in terms of happiness.His fixation on happiness may have swung the election in his party’s favour, one observer said, trumping the opposition’s family ties to the royals.”DPT’s vision and manifesto are completely based on the Gross National Happiness concept,” said Kinley Dorji, editor-in-chief of the national Kuensel newspaper.”They were seen to be a stronger advocate of the idea.”The Oxford-educated sovereign, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, was nevertheless expected to retain a strong influence over the running of the isolated country.Nampa-AFP