2018 Bhutanese National Assembly election

2018 Bhutanese National Assembly election

15 September 2018 (first round) 18 October 2018 (second round)
All 47 seats in the National Assembly 24 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	71.46
First party Second party   Leader Lotay Tshering Pema Gyamtsho Party DNT DPT Leader since 14 May 2018 3 December 2013 Leader's seat South Thimphu Chhoekhor-Tang Last election 17.04%, 0 seats 45.12%, 15 seats Seats before 0 15 Seats won 30 17 Seat change 30 2
Prime Minister before election Tshering Tobgay PDP Prime Minister-designate Lotay Tshering DNT

National Assembly elections were held in Bhutan in 2018; the first round was held on 15 September and the second round on 18 October.

The ruling People's Democratic Party of former Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay came third in the first round of voting, unexpectedly failing to advance to the second round and resulting in it losing all 32 seats. The second round was a contest between the Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, DPT), the only other party with parliamentary representation, and the unrepresented Bhutan United Party (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa, DNT), which received the most votes in the first round.

Electoral system

The 47 members of the National Assembly are elected from single-member constituencies. Primary elections are held in which voters cast votes for parties. The top two parties are then able to field candidates in the main round of voting, in which members are elected using first-past-the-post voting.

Results

Party		First round		Second round
		Votes	%	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Bhutan United Party	92,722	31.85	172,268	54.95	30	+30
	Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party	90,020	30.92	141,205	45.05	17	+2
	People's Democratic Party	79,883	27.44			0	–32
	Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party	28,473	9.78			0	New
Total		291,098	100	313,473	100	47	0
Registered voters/turnout		438,663	66.36	438,663	71.46	–	–
Source: ECB First round, ECB Second round