Bhutan’s Election Countdown: A Tiny Kingdom’s Big Gamble
Welcome to the Land of the Thunder Dragon, folks! With a population of just 800,000, Bhutan is about to turn its third, and arguably most thrilling, democratic election into a showdown that could rewrite the country’s political playbook.
Election Snapshot
- Two front‑liners: Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) and Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) jockey for every vote.
- First round, Sept 15: DNT edges DPT with 92,722 votes to 90,020. A tight race!
- Run‑off on Oct 18: The stakes are higher: whichever side can woo the “third‑party” voters will claim the crown.
Key Players & Their Plots
Tshering Tobgay, the former prime minister and a Harvard‑educated brain, put up a brave front. Unfortunately, his dutiful party landed third, and the heavy lifting (and the ultimate hand‑shake) now belongs to his rivals.
Both DNT and DPT have campaigned on a pitch‑rim: Boost the economy, fix the health system, and ditch the corruption circus. Highlights include:
- DNP’s mantra: “Narrowing the gap” — a promise to bring Bhutan as level as any richer neighbour.
- DPT’s bold pledge: “Bhutan’s economy self‑reliant by 2025”.
Bhutan’s Unique Balances
Rejecting the trick‑synergy of cheap GDP, Bhutan celebrates Gross National Happiness (GNH) over just numbers. They keep a carbon‑negative economy and keep tourism in check with a daily fee of $250 per visitor.
Even TV did not hit the airwaves until 1999; and the first internet lightbulb brightened only after that. Freedom, folks, has always had a light‑touch attitude.
International Tensions & The Big Brothers
While Bhutan prides itself on independence, it’s a chessboard for regional giants. India’s irritation with China’s creeping influence lately has played a role. In 2013, India pulled subsidies for kerosene and cooking gas, apparently nudging the pot to favor one side. Fast forward to 2024: a standoff on the Doklam plateau has turned the two neighbours into a three‑way diplomatic tango.
With India’s soldiering presence in Bhutan, China’s border guards have been warned against building roads on disputed land. The tug‑of‑war could leave even the monks humming a different tune.
What to Expect
Will a 2013‑registered party become sovereign? Will GNH outshine GDP? Will the “Land of the Thunder Dragon” keep its calm while the international chessboard around it thumps? Grab your chai, grab your tea snack, and await the run‑off verdict. Bhutan’s future is a little big, a little small, but always bursting with story.
