Date:08/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/08/stories/2008040854531300.htm

National

Jigmi Thinley, Bhutan’s Prime Minister-elect

Special Correspondent

Jigmi Y Thinley

Kolkata: Jigmi Y Thinley, president of the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT), that won a landslide victory in Bhutan’s first parliamentary elections held on March 24, has been unanimously endorsed by the party as the country’s Prime Minister-elect.

The endorsement came at an executive meeting of the DPT in Thimphu on April 5, spokesperson of the party, Palden Tshering, told The Hindu over the telephone from the Bhutanese capital on Monday.

The meeting also discussed the names of those to be nominated to the Cabinet of the country’s first elected government. The Cabinet will have 10 Ministers, besides the Prime Minister.

Mr. Thinley will be receiving a congratulatory scarf on being elected Prime Minister from King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Wednesday.

Two days later scarves will be presented to the ten other ministers of his cabinet, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Tshering said.

The King had a “festive meeting” with all the Parliamentarians on April 4 when they played archery and other traditional games and had lunch together. Among those present were members of Bhutan’s National Council.

The DPT leadership will be according top priority to checking corruption starting from within the party itself, it was decided at the party’s executive meeting.

A watchdog against corruption will be constituted from the organisation to ensure that none engages in corrupt and dubious practices, Mr. Tshering said.

It was also decided that the agenda at the first meeting of the country’s Parliament will include the adoption of the Constitution, planning the centenary of the monarchy in Bhutan and the coronation of the King, and adopting the country’s Tenth Plan in such a way that it falls within the paradigm the DPT’s manifesto, he said.