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Democratic Bhutan holds first parliament session
LAST UPDATE: Friday, 9 May 2008 - 12:10:06 AM
THIMPHU: The newly elected members of Bhutan's first parliament met for the first time yesterday, marking another historic milestone in the tiny Himalayan nation's transformation to democracy.
Addressing a joint sitting of both the houses at the new-look National Assembly hall, King Jigme Khesar Namgyal asked the members to uphold the principles of democracy.
"The historic session began at 8.30 am (0900 hrs IST) with His Majesty addressing members of both the National Assembly (NA) and National Council (NC)," NA Secretary Nima Tshering told PTI.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyal's address was followed by a speech by NA Speaker Jigme Tshultim.
"There were some traditional offerings thereafter followed by vote of thanks by the Prime Minister (Jigme Y Thinley), Leader of Opposition (Tshering Tobgay) and NC Chairman (Namgay Penjore)," Tshering said.
The session lasted till one pm before it was adjourned for the day.
Tshering said the session will adopt Bhutan's draft constitution.
Apart from it, the MPs will also endorse five bills related to Election, Constitution, National Assembly, National Council and Parliamentary Entitlement.
The bills will be passed in three stages -- they will go to the NC (upper house) from the NA (lower house) for consent after which they will be submitted to the King.
"Once whetted through the two houses and presented to His Majesty, the bills will become an Act," Tshering said.
The 47 MPs and 25 NC members met at the renovated parliament hall here.
The hall, upgraded to what officials call a "modern parliament", has an inverted C-shaped seating arrangement like in the past, but seats will be raised by about six inches from the front row.
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