List of prime ministers of Bhutan

Prime Minister of Bhutan
Prime Minister of Bhutan
	Emblem of Bhutan
	Incumbent; Lotay Tshering; since 7 November 2018
Appointer	Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck; as King of Bhutan
Inaugural holder	Ugyen Dorji; (Chief Minister); Jigme Palden Dorji; (Prime Minister)
Formation	1907 (Chief Minister); 1952 (Prime Minister)
Salary	37,365 USD annually

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[]

Chief ministers (Gongzim)[]

No.		Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Political party	King (Reign)
No.		Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Days	Political party	King (Reign)
	1		Raja Ugyen Dorji (1855–1916)	1907	1916 ^[a]	c. 3285	Independent	Ugyen (1907–1926)
	2		Raja Sonam Topgay Dorji (1896–1953)	1917	1952	c. 12775	Independent	Ugyen (1907–1926)
	2		Raja Sonam Topgay Dorji (1896–1953)	1917	1952	c. 12775	Independent	Jigme (1926–1952)

Prime ministers (Lyonchen)[]

No.		Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Political party	Election	Cabinet	King (Reign)
No.		Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Days	Political party	Election	Cabinet	King (Reign)
	1		Jigme Palden Dorji (1919–1964)	1952	6 April 1964 ^[b]	c. 4380	Independent	—	—	Jigme Dorji (1952–1972)
Vacant (6 April 1964–25 July 1964)
	—		Lhendup Dorji (1935–2007) Acting Prime Minister ^[c]	25 July 1964	27 November 1964	125	Independent	—	—
Post Abolished (27 November 1964–20 July 1998)
Post Abolished (27 November 1964–20 July 1998)										Jigme Singye (1972–2006)
	2		Jigme Thinley (born 1952) 1st time	20 July 1998	9 July 1999	354	Independent	—	—
	3		Sangay Ngedup (born 1953) 1st time	9 July 1999	20 July 2000	377	Independent	—	—
	4		Yeshey Zimba (born 1952) 1st time	20 July 2000	8 August 2001	384	Independent	—	—
	5		Khandu Wangchuk (born 1950) 1st time	8 August 2001	14 August 2002	371	Independent	—	—
	6		Kinzang Dorji (born 1951) 1st time	14 August 2002	30 August 2003	381	Independent	—	—
	(2)		Jigme Thinley (born 1952) 2nd time	30 August 2003	18 August 2004	354	Independent	—	—
	(4)		Yeshey Zimba (born 1952) 2nd time	18 August 2004	5 September 2005	383	Independent	—	—
	(3)		Sangay Ngedup (born 1953) 2nd time	5 September 2005	7 September 2006	367	Independent	—	—
	(5)		Khandu Wangchuk (born 1950) 2nd time	7 September 2006	31 July 2007	327	Independent	—	—
	(5)		Khandu Wangchuk (born 1950) 2nd time	7 September 2006	31 July 2007	327	Independent	—	—	Jigme Khesar Namgyel (2006–present)
	(6)		Kinzang Dorji (born 1951) 2nd time	31 July 2007	9 April 2008	253	Independent	—	—
Democratically elected
	(2)		Jigme Thinley (born 1952) 3rd time	9 April 2008	28 April 2013	1845	DPT	2008	2008 Thinley Cabinet
	—		Sonam Tobgye (born 1949) Chief Advisor	28 April 2013	27 July 2013	90	Independent	—	2013 Tobgye Interim Cabinet
	7		Tshering Tobgay (born 1965)	27 July 2013	9 August 2018	1839	PDP	2013	2013 Tobgay Cabinet
	—		Tshering Wangchuk (born 19??) Chief Advisor	9 August 2018	7 November 2018	90	Independent	—	2018 Wangchuk Interim Cabinet
	8		Lotay Tshering (born 1968)	7 November 2018	Incumbent	1191	DNT	2018	2018 Tshering Cabinet

Notes[]

^ Died in office.
^ Assassinated by a corporal of the Royal Bhutan Army.
^ Brother of Jigme Palden Dorji.

References[]

^ "15 Highest Paid Asian Political Leaders 2015". 23 June 2015.
^ Wangchuk, Rinzin (12 April 2008). "New PM Takes Office". Kuensel online. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
^ "Thinley Takes Over as Premier". The Hindu. 11 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
^ "Dr Lotay Tshering sworn in as Bhutan's new prime minister". The New Indian Express. 7 November 1954. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
^ "Lotay Tshering sworn in as Bhutan's new prime minister - Xinhua | English.news.cn". Xinhuanet.com. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
^ "New PM's Cabinet inaugurated in Bhutan". English.kyodonews.net. Retrieved 8 November 2018.

External links[]

Official Website of the Government of Bhutan

[7] Died in office.

[8] Assassinated by a corporal of the Royal Bhutan Army.

[9] Brother of Jigme Palden Dorji.

[pinoythaiyo.com-1] "15 Highest Paid Asian Political Leaders 2015". 23 June 2015.

[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. 7 November 1954. Retrieved 8 November 2018.

[5] "Lotay Tshering sworn in as Bhutan's new prime minister - Xinhua | English.news.cn". Xinhuanet.com. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2018.

[6] "New PM's Cabinet inaugurated in Bhutan". English.kyodonews.net. Retrieved 8 November 2018.

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