12 April, 2008 - On April 9, 2008, the fourth day of the third month of the male earth rat year, Jigmi Yoezer Thinley took his place on the highest seat of governance that a Bhutanese citizen can aspire for. Chosen by the will of the Bhutanese people, Bhutan’s first elected prime minister received the auspicious five-colour dhar from His Majesty the King.
Lyonchhen Jigmi Thinley (Dasho) received the symbolic scarf and sword in the throne room of Tashichhodzong. After the ceremony, he offered prayers and nyendar and lit 1,000 butter lamps in the geonkhang lhakhang of Tashichhodzong.
The prime minister was then escorted to the newly established office at Gyalyong Tshogkhang in a chipdrel procession and presented a guard of honour by the Royal Bhutan Police.
The Dorji Lopon of the Zhung Dratshang presided over a special tendryil ceremony inside the prime minister’s office and offered the Tashi Zegye (offering of the eight auspicious objects). Government officials and people’s representatives of Thimphu offered the ku-sung-thugten mendrel to the prime minister.
Thousands of well wishers, who offered khadar and tashi delek to the prime minister, said they were extremely moved by the historic occasion. “It demonstrates the trust and confidence of the people in the new democratically elected government established by our Kings,” said a Thimphu businessman.
“It’s a privilege to be part of history,” said a civil servant. A local leader said that he had come to offer his prayers that the prime minister would fulfill His Majesty’s vision of serving the people through a democratically elected government.
Meanwhile, the establishment of the government was completed yesterday with the announcement of portfolios of 10 cabinet ministers, who also received dakyens from His Majesty the King. The party won 45 of the 47 seats to the National Assembly in the March 24 general elections.
Lyonchhen Jigmi Thinley (Dasho), who has been emphasizing responsibility rather than celebrations on the party’s victory, said that his government would adopt the Constitution of Bhutan and then discuss the 10th five-year plan. He said that DPT would continue as a party, with party activities. “We’ll build our base in the constituencies and the party members will be active in their constituencies,” he told Kuensel, adding that members of parliament would be required to visit their constituencies at least twice a year.
Born in 1952 in Bumthang, the prime minister comes from Mendrelgang, Punakha and transferred his census to Pemagatshel. He began his academic career in Dr Graham’s Homes in Kalimpong and graduated from St Stephen’s College in India. He completed his master’s in public administration from Penn State university in the United States and a certificate course in manpower planning and management from Manchester university, United Kingdom.
He joined the civil service in 1974 and served in various capacities for 34 years.
When the national administration was decentralised into the zonal system on trial, he became the zonal administrator of the Eastern Zone, in 1990. In 1992, he became secretary in the home ministry and in 1994 was promoted as deputy minister in the same ministry.
That same year, he was appointed as permanent representative of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the United Nations office and other international organizations in Geneva.
He received the Red Scarf and the title Dasho in February 1987 and was awarded the Orange Scarf and rank of Deputy Minister in January, 1994. He served as minister for foreign affairs and home minister and two terms as prime minister in 1998 and 2003. He was conferred the Druk Thuksey and Coronation medals on June 2, 1999.
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