Bhutan
National Council
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
View field in the data dictionary -
Monarchy
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
View field in the data dictionary -
Bicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
View field in the data dictionary -
Yes
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
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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.
View field in the data dictionary -
20 Apr 2023
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Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
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No information available
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Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
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Upon normal expiry
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Expected date of next elections
The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
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30 Apr 2028
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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.
View field in the data dictionary -
20
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Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
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Full renewal
Candidates
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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.
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Not applicable
- Not applicable. There is no party system or candidates stood as independents.
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Yes
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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".
View field in the data dictionary -
89
Voter turnout
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Registered voters
Number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
485,811
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Voters
Number of people who actually voted
View field in the data dictionary -
265,441
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Voter turnout
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
54.6%
Results
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About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
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All candidates ran as independents, as the membership of the 25-member National Council is not party-based, unlike the National Assembly (lower chamber). In 2023, 89 candidates (down from 121 in 2018) vied for the 20 seats at stake. One woman was elected, down from two in 2018. The King subsequently appointed the five remaining members, including two women.
The 2023 elections were the first to be held under the 2022 law (see note). The Election Commission stated that it had developed the law in view of holding elections “in a free and fair manner, curbing electoral corruption and further raising the standard of electoral participation”.
Note:
The Rules on Elections Conduct in the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2022, require candidates to submit additional certificates for their educational, professional and financial backgrounds. They also set higher penalty fees in the event of breaches of electoral law.
Source: https://www.ecb.bt/rules-on-elections-conduct-in-the-kingdom-of-bhutan-2022/
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Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
View field in the data dictionary -
Not applicable
Members elected, by sex
- Number of men elected
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19
- Number of women elected
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1
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Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
View field in the data dictionary -
5.0%
- Women Directly Elected
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1
- Women Appointed
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2
- Sources
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National Council (26.04.2023, 12.05.2023)
https://www.ecb.bt/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/FinalResult_NC2023.pdf
https://www.ecb.bt/provisional-results-for-national-council-elections-2023/
https://www.ecb.bt/finalerollnce2023/
https://www.ecb.bt/rules-on-elections-conduct-in-the-kingdom-of-bhutan-2022/
New legislature
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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.
View field in the data dictionary -
22
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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.
View field in the data dictionary -
3
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Percentage of women after the election
The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
12.0%
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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.
View field in the data dictionary -
18
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Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
72.0%
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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.
View field in the data dictionary -
10 May 2023
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
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Sangay Dorji (Male)
Date of birth: 11 Nov 1981 -
Date of election
The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.
View field in the data dictionary -
10 May 2023