National Assembly to elect Speaker, Dy Speaker today

Reports from Thimphu say, the first sitting of the National Assembly has been scheduled for Friday on which the house will elect its Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has identified its candidates for both the post while the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) has not mentioned so far if will have contesting candidate. In the previous NA term, DPT had both Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

PDP has nominated Jigme Zangpo as the Speaker and Chimmi Dorji as his deputy in the 47-member National Assembly. The members will elect Speaker and Deputy Speaker through secret ballot.

The session will commence with the Secretary General of the National Assembly welcoming the newly-elected members and present the procedure for the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.

After the election results are declared, the members would reassemble at the Hall of Ku Sung Thukten (Body, mind and speech) and will be ushered in by the Chief Justice of Bhutan.

The Chief Justice will administer oath of Affirmation of Office to members of National Assembly followed by Prime Minister, Speaker, Ministers and the Deputy Speaker administering Oath of Affirmation of Secrecy to the members.