BHUTAN: Tshering Tobgay, the former prime minister of Bhutan, has won a resounding electoral triumph and is poised to take over as leader of the Himalayan kingdom for his second term. The outcome was announced on January 10th with Tobgay's political party - People's Democratic Party (PDP) – garnering an impressive majority by capturing nearly two-thirds of seats in National Assembly elections. Meanwhile, Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) obtained only 17 seats which represented a significant victory for PDP.
Tobgay, aged 58 and a previous civil servant and conservationist supporter, has earned himself an engineering degree from the University of Pittsburgh as well as completing his master's in public administration at Harvard. He previously held roles such as prime minister between 2013 to 2018 and was even appointed leader for Bhutan's debut parliament back in '08.
As the election took place, Bhutan was dealing with grave economic difficulties that led to a reconsideration of their historical emphasis on "Gross National Happiness" as opposed to embracing financial growth. With the youth unemployment rate at 29 percent according to World Bank reports and an average past five-year economic increase rating of merely 1.7 percent, it emphasized how critical these issues were for Bhutan's citizens.
According to Tobgay, the sluggish economic growth is due to "unprecedented challenges in the economy and a mass exodus." The statistics that were recently released revealed alarming news: one out of every eight people in Bhutan are having difficulty meeting their basic needs for food and essential items. This highlights the urgent need to address the country's economic situation.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is Bhutan's key trading partner, extended his congratulations to Tobgay on his victory, emphasizing the close diplomatic ties between the two nations. As Tobgay prepares to lead Bhutan once again, the focus will undoubtedly be on implementing measures to tackle the economic hurdles that threaten the well-being of the nation's citizens.
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