Landslide victory in Bhutan's first democratic elections

Updated March 26, 2008 17:53:57

Voters gave a landslide election win to the Bhutan United Party, which took 44 out of 47 lower house seats. [AFP]

Voters in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan's first democratic elections have delivered a ringing endorsement of the status quo.

The world's newest democracy gave a landslide election win to the DPT, or Bhutan United Party, which took 44 out of 47 lower house seats.

More than 80 per cent of voters turned out to the polls, which marked the end of 100 years of absolute monarchy.

The editor in chief of Bhutan's Kuensel newspaper, Kinley Dorji, has told Radio Australia's Asia-Pacific

"In the beginning, when the initiative towards democracy was first announced, people were apprehensive, as the past 100 years have meant stability and prosperity, peace, and the future was unknown," he said.

"There is still a little concern there, but I think people have understood that there is no turning back and that we must take part."

The result stunned even the winning party, which differed only slightly from its rival.

Both the DBT and the opposition People's Democratic Party have strong allegiances to the popular monarch, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and both have promised to boost development and stick with Gross National Happiness to measure growth.

"We thought that the two parties were very well balanced, and we would therefore see a balanced parliament," he said.

"Of course, it was a complete landslide for the DPT, and that was surprising, but when you come to think about it...the people have said they're happy with what they've had in the past, and they're not ready for change."

You can find the full interview at the Asia-Pacific website: http://radioaustralia.net.au/asiapac