Jigme Thinley
393771
224445107
2008-07-08T21:37:22Z
Martin H.
4693029
image now commons
{{Infobox Prime Minister
| name = Jigme Yoser Thinley
| smallimage = Jigme Thinley.jpg
| order = [[List of Prime Ministers of Bhutan|Prime Minister of Bhutan]]
| monarch = [[Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck]]
| term_start = [[09 April]] [[2008]]
| predecessor = [[Kinzang Dorji]]
| monarch1 = [[Jigme Singye Wangchuck]]
| term_start1 = [[30 August]] [[2003]]
| term_end1 = [[20 August]] [[2004]]
| predecessor1 = [[Kinzang Dorji]]
| successor1 = [[Yeshey Zimba]]
| monarch2 = [[Jigme Singye Wangchuck]]
| term_start2 = [[20 July]] [[1998]]
| term_end2 = [[09 July]] [[1999]]
| predecessor2 = [[Lhendup Dorji]] <small>(1964)</small>
| successor2 = [[Sangay Ngedup]]
| birth_date = [[1952]]
| birth_place = [[Bumthang District|Bumthang]], [[Bhutan]]
| party = [[Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party|DPT]]
}}
Lyonpo '''Jigme Yoser Thinley''' (born [[1952]]<ref name=Kuensel>Rinzin Wangchuk, [http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=10196 "New PM takes office"], Kuensel Online, April 12, 2008.</ref>) has been the Prime Minister of [[Bhutan]] since April 2008.<ref name=Kuensel/><ref name=Takes>[http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/11/stories/2008041154161800.htm "Thinley takes over as Premier"], ''The Hindu'', April 11, 2008.</ref> "Lyonpo" is a title, meaning "minister".{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
Thinley was born in [[Bumthang District|Bumthang]] and joined the civil service in 1974. 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]].<ref name=Kuensel/>
Prior to the beginning of democracy, he was Prime Minister twice, from [[July 20]], [[1998]] to [[July 9]], [[1999]] and from [[30 August]] [[2003]] to [[August 20]] [[2004]]. During this period, chairmanship of the council was based on rotation for a duration of one 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 [[foreign minister|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.<ref name=Kuensel/>
In [[March 2008]], he stood as leader of the political party [[Druk Phuensum Tshogpa]] in [[Bhutanese general election, 2008|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]].<ref name=Kuensel/><ref name=Takes/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Bhutan-politician-stub}}
{{start box}}
{{s-off}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[List of Prime Ministers of Bhutan|Prime Minister of Bhutan]]
| before = [[Lhendup Dorji]]<br><small>1964</small>
| after = [[Sangay Ngedup]]
| years = 1998 – 1999
}}
{{Succession box
| title = Foreign Minister of Bhutan
| before = [[Dawa Tsering]]
| after = [[Khandu Wangchuk]]
| years = 1998 – 2003
}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[List of Prime Ministers of Bhutan|Prime Minister of Bhutan]]
| before = [[Kinzang Dorji]]
| after = [[Yeshey Zimba]]
| years = 2003 – 2004
}}
{{Incumbent succession box
| title = [[List of Prime Ministers of Bhutan|Prime Minister of Bhutan]]
| before = [[Kinzang Dorji]]
| start = 2008
}}
{{end box}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thinley, Lyonpo Jigme}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Current national leaders]]
[[Category:Prime Ministers of Bhutan]]
[[de:Jigme Thinley]]
[[el:Γίγκμε Τίνλεϊ]]
[[et:Jigme Thinley]]
[[fr:Jigme Thinley]]
[[hi:जिग्मे थिनले]]
[[it:Jigme Thinley]]
[[ja:ジグメ・ティンレー]]
[[no:Jigme Thinley]]
[[pl:Lyonpo Jigme Thinley]]
[[sv:Jigme Thinley]]
[[th:จิกมี ทินเลย์]]
[[zh:吉莫·廷禮]]