The prime minister of Bhutan (Lyonchen) is the head of government of Bhutan. The prime minister is nominated by the party that wins the most seats in the National Assembly (Gyelyong Tshogdu) and heads the executive cabinet, called the Council of Ministers (Lhengye Zhungtshog).
| Prime Minister of Bhutan | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Appointer | Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck as King of Bhutan |
| Inaugural holder | Ugyen Dorji (Chief Minister) Jigme Palden Dorji (Prime Minister) |
| Formation | 1907 (Chief Minister) 1952 (Prime Minister) |
| Salary | 3,053,094 Bhutanese ngultrum/$37,365 USD annually (2015)[1] |
On 9 April 2008, Jigme Thinley became the first elected prime minister; he took office following the country's first democratic election.[2][3]
The current prime minister is Tshering Tobgay, since 28 January 2024.
Prime ministers of the Kingdom of Bhutan
editChief ministers (Gongzim)
edit| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | King (Reign) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Tenure | |||||
| 1 | Raja Ugyen Dorji (1855–1916) |
1907 | 1916 [a] |
c. 8–9 years | Ugyen (1907–1926) | ||
| 2 | Raja Sonam Topgay Dorji (1896–1953) |
1917 | 1952 | c. 34–35 years | |||
| Jigme (1926–1952) | |||||||
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Prime ministers (Lyonchen)
edit| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Political party | Election | Cabinet | King (Reign) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Tenure | ||||||||
| 1 | Jigme Palden Dorji (1919–1964) |
1952 | 6 April 1964 [b] |
c. 11–12 years | Independent | — | — | Jigme Dorji (1952–1972) | ||
| Vacant (6 April 1964–25 July 1964) | ||||||||||
| — | Lhendup Dorji (1935–2007) Acting Prime Minister [c] |
25 July 1964 | 27 November 1964 | 125 days | Independent | — | — | |||
| Post Abolished (27 November 1964–20 July 1998) | ||||||||||
| Jigme Singye (1972–2006) | ||||||||||
| 2 | Jigme Thinley (born 1952) 1st time |
20 July 1998 | 9 July 1999 | 354 days | Independent | — | — | |||
| 3 | Sangay Ngedup (born 1953) 1st time |
9 July 1999 | 20 July 2000 | 1 year, 11 days | Independent | — | — | |||
| 4 | Yeshey Zimba (born 1952) 1st time |
20 July 2000 | 8 August 2001 | 1 year, 19 days | Independent | — | — | |||
| 5 | Khandu Wangchuk (born 1950) 1st time |
8 August 2001 | 14 August 2002 | 1 year, 6 days | Independent | — | — | |||
| 6 | Kinzang Dorji (born 1951) 1st time |
14 August 2002 | 30 August 2003 | 1 year, 16 days | Independent | — | — | |||
| (2) | Jigme Thinley (born 1952) 2nd time |
30 August 2003 | 18 August 2004 | 354 days | Independent | — | — | |||
| (4) | Yeshey Zimba (born 1952) 2nd time |
18 August 2004 | 5 September 2005 | 1 year, 18 days | Independent | — | — | |||
| (3) | Sangay Ngedup (born 1953) 2nd time |
5 September 2005 | 7 September 2006 | 1 year, 2 days | Independent | — | — | |||
| (5) | Khandu Wangchuk (born 1950) 2nd time |
7 September 2006 | 31 July 2007 | 327 days | Independent | — | — | |||
| Jigme Khesar Namgyel (2006–present) | ||||||||||
| (6) | Kinzang Dorji (born 1951) 2nd time |
31 July 2007 | 9 April 2008 | 253 days | Independent | — | — | |||
| Democratically elected | ||||||||||
| (2) | Jigme Thinley (born 1952) 3rd time |
9 April 2008 | 28 April 2013 | 5 years, 19 days | DPT | 2008 | 2008 Thinley Cabinet | |||
| — | Sonam Tobgye (born 1949) Chief Advisor |
28 April 2013 | 27 July 2013 | 90 days | Independent | — | 2013 Tobgye Interim Cabinet | |||
| 7 | Tshering Tobgay (born 1965) 1st time |
27 July 2013 | 9 August 2018 | 5 years, 13 days | PDP | 2013 | 2013 Tobgay Cabinet | |||
| — | Tshering Wangchuk (born 19??) Chief Advisor |
9 August 2018 | 7 November 2018 | 90 days | Independent | — | 2018 Wangchuk Interim Cabinet | |||
| 8 | Lotay Tshering (born 1968) |
7 November 2018 | 1 November 2023 | 4 years, 359 days | DNT | 2018 | 2018 Tshering Cabinet | |||
| — | Chogyal Dago Rigdzin (born 19??) Chief Advisor |
1 November 2023 | 28 January 2024 | 88 days | Independent | — | 2023 Rigdzin Interim Cabinet | |||
| (7) | Tshering Tobgay (born 1965) 2nd time |
28 January 2024 | Incumbent | 301 days | PDP | 2023–24 | 2024 Tobgay Cabinet | |||
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Notes
edit- ^ Died in office.
- ^ Assassinated by a corporal of the Royal Bhutan Army.
- ^ Brother of Jigme Palden Dorji.
References
edit- ^ "15 Highest Paid Asian Political Leaders 2015". Pinoy Thaiyo. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ Wangchuk, Rinzin (12 April 2008). "New PM Takes Office". Kuensel Online. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ "Thinley Takes Over as Premier". The Hindu. 11 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2011.