Second round of Parliamentary elections in Bhutan

Bhutan will hold the second round of its parliamentary elections. The five women candidates were defeated on the first round. However, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck directly appointed two women and three men.

The political parties Druk Nymrub Tshogpa and Druck Chirwang Tshogpa, which are both led by women, lost against Bhutan's traditional parties (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa and the People's Democratic Party, which have a total of 10 women candidates for the upcoming elections). A total of three women were elected to become parliament members in the previous legislature.

The first democratic elections to choose Bhutan's parliamentary were held in 2008. Among the 94 candidates, 10 were women (10.6%). Overall, women in Bhutan are politically more active than men as 161.169 women registered to vote against 157.296 men. The overall male population is, however, higher.

For more information visit the Global Database of Quotas for Women and the Parline database on national parliaments