The first sitting of the Fourth National Assembly begins today with the Speaker and his

deputy nominated for endorsement by the ruling government.

Elected members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party and the opposition party,
Bhutan Tendrel Party will take the oath of office, wear the symbols of
lawmakers, Patang, Gentag and the blue kabney signaling the start of the Fourth
Parliament of Bhutan. There were no disputes surrounding the election results or the
people’s choice, and as members of the parliament are briefed and take office, it signals
yet another successful parliamentary election.

The 2023-24 election is one for the books. For the first time, five political parties took
part in the elections. A new party, formed a year before the elections, is sitting in the
opposition with 17 seats. As many expected, the PDP returned to govern, campaigning
largely on an issue that has affected almost every Bhutanese, the economy. Druk
Phuensum Tshogpa is still a party that qualified for state funding, Druk Nyamrup
Tshogpa and its members were shocked to come fourth while the Druk Thuendrel
Tshogpa couldn’t appeal to voters.

After the opening of the first sitting today, all eyes will be on who will form the cabinet of
ministers headed by Dasho Tshering Tobgay as the fourth democratically elected prime
minister of Bhutan. The election and the results are now behind us even if people are
discussing issues that have arisen from the recent election results. As we offer our trashi
delek khadars to the MP elects and exchange goodwill, the biggest concern is the way
Bhutanese voted in the fourth parliamentary elections.