Lyonpo Jigme Thinley
Encyclopedia
Lyonchen Jigme Yoser Thinley (Dzongkha: འཇིགས་མེད་འོད་ཟེར་འཕྲིན་ལས་; Wylie
: 'Jigs-med 'Od-zer 'Phrin-las) (born 1952) has been the Prime Minister of Bhutan
since April 2008. "Lyonchen" is a title, meaning "prime minister".
and joined the civil service in 1974 upon receiving a graduate degree from The Pennsylvania State University. In February 1987, Thinley was awarded the title of Dasho and the Red Scarf
, and in 1990, under the zonal system, he became administrator of the Eastern Zone. He then became secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs
in 1992 before being appointed as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in January 1994, at which time he was also awarded the Orange Scarf
. Later in 1994, he was appointed as Bhutan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations office
and other international organizations in Geneva
.
Prior to the beginning of democracy, he was Prime Minister twice, from July 20, 1998, to July 9, 1999, and from August 30, 2003, to August 20, 2004. During this period, chairmanship of the council was based on rotation once per year, with the order of rotation decided by the number of votes secured during the time of election to the council. Jigme was also the Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Bhutan from 1998 until 2003 and subsequently served as Minister of Home and Cultural Affairs
.
On June 2, 1999, Thinley was awarded the Druk Thuksey
and Coronation medals. On December 17, 2008, Thinley was awarded the Druk Wangyal medal - one of the highest medals of honor - for excellence in carrying out his duties.
In March 2008, he stood as leader of the political party Druk Phuensum Tshogpa in Bhutan's first democratic election
. His party won 45 of the 47 seats in the National Assembly of Bhutan
, which enabled Jigme Thinley to become Bhutan's first ever elected Prime Minister. He took office on April 9.
Thinley blamed the global economic crisis of 2008–2009 on "insatiable human greed" and stressed the need to instead focus on the Bhutanese notion of gross national happiness
. His government works to base its policies on gross national happiness rather than purely economic considerations.
In July 2009, Thinley became a member of the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation
's International Advisory Board to contribute his experience to the organisation's poverty reduction and sustainable development work.
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Wylie transliteration
The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating Tibetan script using only the letters available on a typical English language typewriter. It bears the name of Turrell V. Wylie, who described the scheme in an article, A Standard System of Tibetan Transcription, published in 1959...
: 'Jigs-med 'Od-zer 'Phrin-las) (born 1952) has been the Prime Minister of Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
since April 2008. "Lyonchen" is a title, meaning "prime minister".
Biography
Thinley was born in BumthangBumthang District
Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted...
and joined the civil service in 1974 upon receiving a graduate degree from The Pennsylvania State University. In February 1987, Thinley was awarded the title of Dasho and the Red Scarf
Kabney
A kabney is a silk scarf worn as a part of the gho, the traditional male costume in Bhutan. It is raw silk, normally 90 x 300 cm with fringes...
, and in 1990, under the zonal system, he became administrator of the Eastern Zone. He then became secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs
The Bhutanese Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs is the government ministry within the Lhengye Zhungtshog which oversees law and order; the civil administration; immigration services; the issuance of citizenship documents, and other related documents; the...
in 1992 before being appointed as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in January 1994, at which time he was also awarded the Orange Scarf
Kabney
A kabney is a silk scarf worn as a part of the gho, the traditional male costume in Bhutan. It is raw silk, normally 90 x 300 cm with fringes...
. Later in 1994, he was appointed as Bhutan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations office
United Nations Office at Geneva
The United Nations Office at Geneva is the second-largest of the four major office sites of the United Nations...
and other international organizations in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
.
Prior to the beginning of democracy, he was Prime Minister twice, from July 20, 1998, to July 9, 1999, and from August 30, 2003, to August 20, 2004. During this period, chairmanship of the council was based on rotation once per year, with the order of rotation decided by the number of votes secured during the time of election to the council. Jigme was also the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Bhutan from 1998 until 2003 and subsequently served as Minister of Home and Cultural Affairs
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs
The Bhutanese Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs is the government ministry within the Lhengye Zhungtshog which oversees law and order; the civil administration; immigration services; the issuance of citizenship documents, and other related documents; the...
.
On June 2, 1999, Thinley was awarded the Druk Thuksey
Druk Thuksey
The Druk Thuksey, also transliterated as Druk Thugsey is a medal awarded by the King of Bhutan; it represents the highest civilian honor available....
and Coronation medals. On December 17, 2008, Thinley was awarded the Druk Wangyal medal - one of the highest medals of honor - for excellence in carrying out his duties.
In March 2008, he stood as leader of the political party Druk Phuensum Tshogpa in Bhutan's first democratic election
Bhutanese general election, 2008
Bhutan held its first general election on March 24, 2008 for the National Assembly. Two parties were registered by the Election Commission of Bhutan to contest the election: the Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party , which was formed by the merger of the previously established Bhutan People's United...
. His party won 45 of the 47 seats in the National Assembly of Bhutan
National Assembly of Bhutan
The National Assembly is the elected lower house of Bhutan's new bicameral Parliament which also comprises the Druk Gyalpo and the National Council. It is the more powerful house.- Current National Assembly :...
, which enabled Jigme Thinley to become Bhutan's first ever elected Prime Minister. He took office on April 9.
Thinley blamed the global economic crisis of 2008–2009 on "insatiable human greed" and stressed the need to instead focus on the Bhutanese notion of gross national happiness
Gross national happiness
The assessment of gross national happiness was designed in an attempt to define an indicator that measures quality of life or social progress in more holistic and psychological terms than only the economic indicator of gross domestic product .-Origins and meaning:The term...
. His government works to base its policies on gross national happiness rather than purely economic considerations.
In July 2009, Thinley became a member of the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation
SNV Netherlands Development Organisation
SNV Netherlands Development Organisation is a non-profit, international development organisation, established in the Netherlands in 1965.SNV aims to alleviate poverty by enabling increased income and employment opportunities and increasing access to basic services...
's International Advisory Board to contribute his experience to the organisation's poverty reduction and sustainable development work.
External links
(63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly)|-
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