Updated Saturday, July 19, 2008 0:00 am TWN, Reuters

Bhutan king signs new constitution in golden ink

THIMPHU, Bhutan -- Bhutan’s parliament endorsed the country’s first constitution on Friday, formally turning the former absolute monarchy into a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. The 27-year-old king, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, signed the first copy of the constitution, using a wooden pen dipped in golden, ink inside a 17th century fortress after parliament had ratified it.

His father, Bhutan’s fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, not only surrendered power without a struggle, but actually imposed democracy against the will of many of his subjects before abdicating in favour of his Oxford-educated son in 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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