Democracy comes to Kingdom of Bhutan
'Pakistan Times' Wire Service

THIMPHU: Bhutan brought down the curtain on a century of absolute monarchy Monday, as the king's subjects elected the remote Himalayan nation's first democratic government.

The landmark vote was proposed by Bhutan's royal family to peacefully transform the small Buddhist kingdom, wedged in the mountains between massive neighbours India and China, into a constitutional monarchy.

The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) or Bhutan United Party made an unexpected clean sweep by winning 44 of the total 47 seats for the lower house in what was seen to be a tight two-party race, the Election Commission said.

"We have the DPT winning as of now 44 of the 47 seats," chief election
commissioner Kunzang Wangdi told a news conference in the capital Thimphu.

"There is total amazement in the party. The results are far beyond our expectations," party spokesman Palden Tshering said.

DPT leader Jigmi Thinley -- a two-time former premier under the previous royal governments who holds a public administration masters degree from Pennsylvania State University -- is expected to be the new prime minister.●