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The
2008 Elections: Facts
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When
Bhutanese above 18 years go to polls in the first general elections in
2008 would they participate in it intelligently and vote for the Bhutanese
above 18 years would be voting twice when the elections for a new government
begins in 2008 say election commission officials.
The
first vote would be during the primary round and the second vote during
the general elections. |
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In
the primary round, the parties are contesting for maximum number of votes,
in the general elections, the contest is for seats in parliament. |
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The
present National Assembly would be dissolved 90 days before the elections
and representatives to the parliament will be called Thumeys or Members
of Parliament. |
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For
instance, if Bhutan is divided into 60 constituencies, 120 candidates,
one candidate each from the two parties would compete in the constituencies,
representing their party. "People in the constituency will be voting for
the candidate nominated by the party. |
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Parties
that have been eliminated in the primary round could show support, at an
informal level, to the winning parties but cannot merge with them. |
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A
party should have a charter depending on the ideology or principle that
it is going to adopt. The charter has to be excepted by the Election Commission
when it is being registered |
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The
party, which gets the maximum seats in parliament would form the government
while the other would be the opposition. |
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Article
15 (9) of the Draft Constitution does not permit members of the National
Assembly belonging to one party to defect to another party either individually
or en bloc. |
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The
draft Constitution says that public campaign financing would be provided
by the state, parties could resort to private funding. |
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The
party will have to present their manifesto during the running and active
members of a party who would try to get a seat in the parliament would
be assigned the duty of running. |
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Parties
that have been eliminated in the primary round could show support, at an
informal level, to the winning parties but cannot merge with them. |
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Political
parties should compete strictly in accordance with the laws, respect the
rights and freedom of others, and above all, should uphold the Constitution
and abide by the code of conduct as laid down in the Election Act. |
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Source:
Kuensel, Bhutan's National Newspaper, National Election Commission, 2006 |
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