About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
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".