Prime Minister of Bhutan
Emblem of Bhutan
Incumbent
Chogyal Dago Rigdzin
(as Chief Advisor)
since 1 November 2023
AppointerJigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
as King of Bhutan
Inaugural holderUgyen Dorji
(Chief Minister)
Jigme Palden Dorji
(Prime Minister)
Formation1907 (Chief Minister)
1952 (Prime Minister)
Salary3,053,094 Bhutanese ngultrum/$37,365 USD annually (2015)[1]

The prime minister of Bhutan (Lyonchhen) 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).

On 9 April 2008, Jigme Thinley became the first ever elected prime minister; he took office following the country's first democratic election.[2][3]

The current prime minister is Lotay Tshering, since 7 November 2018; he is the country's 3rd democratically elected prime minister.[4][5][6]

Prime ministers of the Kingdom of Bhutan

Druk Desis (1650–1906)

Below appears the list of Druk Desis throughout the existence of the office. Officeholders were initially appointed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, though after his death the Je Khenpo and civil government decided appointments.

Italics indicate coregencies and caretaker governments, which are not traditionally separately numbered.

A photo of the 54th Druk Desi, Choley Yeshe Ngodub.
Druk Desis of Bhutan
No. Name Date of Birth Reign start Reign end Date of Death
1 Tenzin Drukgye1591165016551655
2 Langonpa Tenzin Drukdra165516671667
3 Chhogyel Minjur Tempa1613166716801680
4 Gyalsey Tenzin Rabgye1638168016941696
5 Gedun Chomphel169517011701
6 Ngawang Tshering17011704
7 Umze Peljor170417071707
8 Druk Rabgye170717191729
9 Ngawang Gyamtsho171917291729
10 Mipham Wangpo17291736
11 Khuwo Peljor17361739
12 Ngawang Gyaltshen17391744
13 Sherab Wangchuk17441763
14 Druk Phuntsho17631765
15 Wangzob Druk Tenzin I17651768
16 Sonam Lhundub .Druk Desi Sonam Lhundub was the first Bhutanese ruler to confront British power, losing in a power bid in Cooch Behar, a traditional Bhutanese dependency.176817731773
17 Kunga Rinchen17731776
18 Jigme Singye1742177617881789
19 Druk Tenzin17881792
20 Umzey Chapchhab179217921792
21 Chhogyel Sonam Gyaltshen (Tashi Namgyel)17921799
22 Druk Namgyel17991803
23 Chhogyel Sonam Gyaltshen (Tashi Namgyel)
(2nd reign)		18031805
24 Sangye Tenzin18051806
25 Umzey Parob18061808
26 Byop Chhyoda18071808
27 Tulku Tsulthrim Daba1790180918101820
28 Zhabdrung Thutul (Jigme Dragpa)18101811
29 Chholay Yeshey Gyaltshen1781181118151830
30 Tshaphu Dorji Namgyel18151815
31 Sonam Drugyel18151819
32 Gongzim Tenzin Drukda18191823
33 Chhoki Gyaltshen18231831
34 Dorji Namgyal18311832
35 Adab Thinley18321835
36 Chhoki Gyaltshen
(2nd reign)		18351838
37 Dorji Norbu18381850
38 Wangchuk Gyalpo18501850
39 Zhabdrung Thutul (Jigme Norbu)
(in Thimphu)		18501852
Chagpa Sangye
(in Punakha)		18511852
40 Damchho Lhundrup18521854
41 Jamtul Jamyang Tenzin18541856
42 Kunga Palden
(in Punakha)		18561860
Sherab Tharchin
(in Thimphu)		18561860
43 Phuntsho Namgyel (Nazi Pasang)18601863
44 Tshewang Sithub18631864
Tsulthrim Yonten18641864
45 Kagyud Wangchuk18641864
46 Tshewang Sithub
(2nd reign)		18651867
47 Tsondul Pekar18671870
48 Jigme Namgyel1825187018731881
49 Kitshab Dorji Namgyel18731879
Jigme Namgyel
(2nd reign)		18771878
Kitshab Dorji Namgyel
(2nd reign)		18781879
50 Chhogyel ZangpoMarch 1879June 18801880
Jigme Namgyel
(3rd reign)		June 1880July 1881
51 Lam Tshewang1836July 1881May 18831883
52 Gawa ZangpoMay 1883August 1885
53 Sangay Dorji188519011901
54 Choley Yeshe Ngodub1851190319061917
Notes:

    Chief ministers (Gongzim)

    Portrait Name
    (Birth–Death)    		 Term of office King
    (Reign)
    Took office Left office Tenure
    Raja
    Ugyen Dorji
    (1855–1916)    		 1907 1916
    [lower-alpha 1]    		 c. 8–9 years Ugyen

    (1907–1926)
    Raja
    Sonam Topgay Dorji
    (1896–1953)    		 1917 1952 c. 34–35 years
    Jigme

    (1926–1952)

    Prime ministers (Lyonchen)

    Portrait Name
    (Birth–Death)    		 Term of office Political party Election King
    (Reign)
    Took office Left office Tenure
    Jigme Palden Dorji
    (1919–1964)    		 1952 6 April 1964
    [lower-alpha 2]    		 c. 11–12 years Independent — Jigme Dorji

    (1952–1972)
    Lhendup Dorji
    (1935–2007)
    Acting Prime Minister
    [lower-alpha 3]    		 6 April 1964 27 November 1964 125 days Independent —
    Post Abolished (27 November 1964–20 July 1998)
    Jigme Singye

    (1972–2006)
    Jigme Thinley
    (born 1952)
    1st time    		 20 July 1998 9 July 1999 354 days Independent —
    Sangay Ngedup
    (born 1953)
    1st time    		 9 July 1999 20 July 2000 1 year, 11 days Independent —
    Yeshey Zimba
    (born 1952)
    1st time    		 20 July 2000 8 August 2001 1 year, 19 days Independent —
    Khandu Wangchuk
    (born 1950)
    1st time    		 8 August 2001 14 August 2002 1 year, 6 days Independent —
    Kinzang Dorji
    (born 1951)
    1st time    		 14 August 2002 30 August 2003 1 year, 16 days Independent —
    Jigme Thinley
    (born 1952)
    2nd time    		 30 August 2003 18 August 2004 354 days Independent —
    Yeshey Zimba
    (born 1952)
    2nd time    		 18 August 2004 5 September 2005 1 year, 18 days Independent —
    Sangay Ngedup
    (born 1953)
    2nd time    		 5 September 2005 7 September 2006 1 year, 2 days Independent —
    Khandu Wangchuk
    (born 1950)
    2nd time    		 7 September 2006 31 July 2007 327 days Independent —
    Jigme Khesar Namgyel

    (2006–present)
    Kinzang Dorji
    (born 1951)
    2nd time    		 31 July 2007 9 April 2008 253 days Independent —
    Democratically elected
    Jigme Thinley
    (born 1952)
    3rd time    		 9 April 2008 28 April 2013 5 years, 19 days DPT 2008
    Sonam Tobgye
    (born 1949)
    Chief Advisor    		 28 April 2013 27 July 2013 90 days Independent —
    Tshering Tobgay
    (born 1965)
    1st time    		 27 July 2013 9 August 2018 5 years, 13 days PDP 2013
    Tshering Wangchuk
    (born 19??)
    Chief Advisor    		 9 August 2018 7 November 2018 90 days Independent —
    Lotay Tshering
    (born 1968)    		 7 November 2018 1 November 2023 4 years, 359 days DNT 2018
    Chogyal Dago Rigdzin
    (born 19??)
    Chief Advisor    		 1 November 2023 Incumbent 77 days Independent —
    Tshering Tobgay
    (born 1965)
    2nd time    		 Taking office 30 January 2024 −13 days PDP 2023–24

    Notes

    1. ↑ Died in office.
    2. ↑ Assassinated by a corporal of the Royal Bhutan Army.
    3. ↑ Brother of Jigme Palden Dorji.

    References

    1. ↑ "15 Highest Paid Asian Political Leaders 2015". Pinoy Thaiyo. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
    2. ↑ Wangchuk, Rinzin (12 April 2008). "New PM Takes Office". Kuensel Online. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
    3. ↑ "Thinley Takes Over as Premier". The Hindu. 11 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
    4. ↑ "Dr Lotay Tshering Sworn in As Bhutan's New Prime Minister". The New Indian Express. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
    5. ↑ "Lotay Tshering Sworn in As Bhutan's New Prime Minister". Xinhuanet.com. 19 April 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
    6. ↑ "New PM's Cabinet Inaugurated in Bhutan". Kyodo News. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.

    See also

    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.