Pema Chewang Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Dasho
Pema Chewang
Office:Leader of the Opposition of the National Assembly of Bhutan
Term Start:3 February 2024
Predecessor:Dorji Wangdi
Office2:President of Bhutan Tendrel Party
Term Start2:November 2022
Nationality:Bhutanese
Party:Bhutan Tendrel Party
Birth Date:[1]

Dasho Pema Chewang (born 1967/1968) is a Bhutanese civil servant and politician who is the leader and founder of the Bhutan Tendrel Party. He previously worked as the Secretary of the National Land Commission of Bhutan from 2014 until his entry into politics in 2022.[2]

Education and career

Chewang has a B.A. from Sherubtse College and a Master in Development Economics from the Australian National University. He served in various roles as a civil servant, including as Chief Planning Officer in the Gross National Happiness Commission and in 2014 was appointed as Secretary of the National Land Commission.[3] In 2020 he was awarded the Red Scarf by king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, conferring on him the title of "Dasho".[4]

Politics

In November 2022, Chewang founded the Bhutan Tendrel Party and was unanimously elected as party president.[5] BTP was registered as a political party by the Election Commission of Bhutan in January 2023, and put forth candidates for the National Assembly election later that year. Chewang ran as a candidate in the constituency of Kanglung-Samkhar-Udzorong, in the Trashigang District, where he placed first in the primary round, with 49.16% of the vote.[6] He also won in the general round with 66.91% of the vote.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2024-01-09 . Former Bhutan PM wins elections overshadowed by economic strife . 2024-01-12 . France 24 . en.
  2. Web site: NLC Secretary tenders resignation confirming establishment of a party . Business Bhutan . 9 January 2024.
  3. Web site: No dearth of Leaders in Bhutan . Business Bhutan . 9 January 2024.
  4. Web site: Breaking: His Majesty awarded the Lungmar Scarf to the Prime Minister Dasho (Dr) Lotay Tshering, and the Red Scarf to the Health Minister Dasho Dechen Wangmo, Chief Election Commissioner Dasho Sonam Tobgay (formerly Home Secretary) and the Land Secretary Dasho Pema Chewang. . Twitter . The Bhutanese.
  5. Web site: Dolkar . Dechen . BTT applies for registration as a political party to ECB . Kuensel . 9 January 2024.
  6. Web site: 4th National Assembly General Election Provisional Results 2023-2024 . Kuensel . 9 January 2024.
  7. Web site: Party Details . 11 January 2024.