First Constitution of Bhutan After the King Himself Converted the Monarchy into Democracy

It will go into the world history as the first example when any absolute Monarch has forced democracy on his own country after surrendering his Kingship without any power struggle whatsoever. The outgoing monarchy was established in 1907 and the outgoing King was the 5^th absolute King of the Kingdom.

This has what exactly happened in Bhutan, a small kingdom roughly of the size of Switzerland, in the lap of Himalayan Hills and having a population of about 2.5 million.

With the signing of the first democratic constitution of the country, by the 27-year-old 5th King J.K.N.Wangchuck, the country has became a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy, exactly at par with the United Kingdom which too is a constitutional monarchy.

J.S.Wangchuck,  4^th  King   and   the  father of  the  present constitutional monarch, not only surrendered power  without a power struggle, but  actually  imposed  democracy, against the will of many of his  subjects  and people of his country in general,  who   were   stunned  by  his  declaration  on  17^th Dec’05    that    the   Kingdom   would   be   converted   to democracy   by   2008. He   then  abdicated  in  favor of his Oxford-Educated   son   to   complete   the   conversion   to Democracy.

The Himalayan Nation held its first democratic elections on 31^st Dec’07 to the National Council (Upper House) and on 24^th March this year to the National Assembly (Lower House) which was won by a Political party named  ‘Druk Phuensam Tshogpa’ by securing 45 seats out of 47 seats in the Lower House of Parliament, defeating Peoples Democratic Party (run by kings relatives by marriage).

While signing the New Constitution-earlier ratified in the parliament- by a wooden pen dipped in golden ink inside a 17^th century fort, the King said, “On this day of destiny, in the blessed land of Pelden Drukpa (glorious Bhutan), we a fortunate people and King, hereby resolve to bring into effect the root and foundation- the very source- of all law in our Nation. This is the People’s Constitution.”

The King’s father, ministers and lawmakers were present at the ceremony and looked on as the King signed the constitution amidst colorfully dressed monks chanting prayers. The ceremony was broadcasted over National Television.

The Constitution was kept for public viewing after the signing ceremony.