New Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform (beta)
Your one-stop-shop for information about national parliaments

Bhutan

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National Assembly

This is a bicameral parliament. Switch to theNational Council
Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Monarchy
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Bicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
Yes
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Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
13.07.2013
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
20.04.2013
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
31.10.2023
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
47
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
94
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
84
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
10
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
10.64%
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
2

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
381,790
Votes Number of people who actually voted
252,485
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
66.13%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
Mr. Tshering Tobgay's People's Democratic Party (PDP) won an absolute majority, taking 32 of the National Assembly's 47 seats, whereas it had only won two seats in the 2008 elections. Although it was leading after the primary round (see note), Prime Minister Jigme Thinley's Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) saw its share fall from 45 to 15 seats. The 2013 election was the second election in the history of parliamentary democracy in Bhutan. Initially five parties, including three new parties, were registered for the elections. However, only four parties contested the primary round as one party did not fulfill the criteria of furnishing a list of all 47 candidates to the Election Commission of Bhutan. On 28 July, the new government, which comprised the first-ever woman minister in Bhutan, was formed with Mr. Tshering Tobgay (PDP) as the Prime Minister. The 2013 elections were declared as being free and fair by international election observers. Note: Four parties contested the primary round in May 2013, in which the ruling DPT won 44.52 per cent of the votes against the PDP's 32.53 per cent. Only the two leading parties in the primary elections contest the second (general) round of elections to the National Assembly.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
2
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
100%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
68.09%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
Yes
Number of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
1
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
People's Democratic Party (PDP)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total
People's Democratic Party (PDP) 32
Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) 15
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
44
Number of women elected
3
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
6.38%
Other notes
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry. A general election had to be called within 90 days of the expiry of the term of the previous legislature on 20 April (i.e. by 20 July).
Sources
National Assembly (29.07.2013, 01.01.2014, 14.06.2014) Election Commission of Bhutan (26.07.2013)
Women Directly Elected
3

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
44
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
3
First-term parliamentarians The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
34
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
02.08.2013
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Jigme Zangpo (Male)
Political party
People's Democratic Party (PDP)
Date of election
02.08.2013