New King in Bhutan

The new King of the remote Himalayan state of Bhutan has pledged on the 17th December that e was committed to giving up absolute power and transforming the tiny Buddhist nation into a constitutional monarchy. Oxford-educated King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, 26, made the promise during a national day speech in the capital Thimpu; the day after his father Jigme Singye Wangchuk announced his abdication.

“The King said he would follow the path paved by his father,” Bhutan’s ambassador to India, Dago Tshering said. The new King will be the 5th ruler in the Wangchuk dynasty that came to power in December 1907.

The former king 51 is most famous for having decided to make his isolated nation’s priority not its gross domestic product or GDP, but it’s GNH “gross national happiness”.

He declared a year ago he would abdicate in 2008 when the country is slated to hold its first elections in the mountainous country known as Shangri-la of breathtaking beauty.

Hi decision to step aside early was made in order to give his son “enough time to get used to working with the government”.

“He has a lot of work ahead of him. He has to ensure that the election commission that is already in place prepares the people for a multi-party system,” the ambassador said.

“It is not as sudden as it seems. Last year on the same day Hi Majesty announced he would be stepping down in favour of the crown Prince and earlier this year His Majesty was already toying with idea.” As for the future of the former King, he said: “I suspect His Majesty will move away to a quieter place to enjoy his retirement.” He said Bhutan’s 600,000 people probably have mixed feelings over the abdication.

“For 34 years the people have an association with the 4th Monarch, who has led the country from strength to strength, and suddenly he is stepping down,” he said, adding that the new bachelor King was known “as a very able person.”