from Bhutan Observer: This story does raise some good questions.

Thimphu:7 September 2007 A third of the declared candidates for the National Council are younger than 30 and many are fresh graduates without much working experience.

It is too early to say whether these young candidates will be successful and put a youthful face on the new Council but the debate has already begun over whether young candidates have the maturity to serve in office.

Chief Election Commissioner Dasho Kunzang Wangdi said age shouldn’t be a factor, as long as the person is capable, competent and fulfils minimum requirements. Only 31 candidates, including 10 under the age of 30, have declared. With 205 gewogs to be represented, that’s only a tiny percentage of the expected total.

The candidates may not have an opportunity to actually run, since the Council election procedure requires the gewogs to nominate them. “So whether they are gewogs candidates or not at this juncture cannot be confirmed,” said Dasho Kunzang Wangdi.

A former councillor Dasho Zeko Dorji said that the candidates should have served the government for a few years to understand the policies better. “If they have no working experience, they might make wrong decisions,” he said “they cannot lead well.”

Thakur Singh Powdyel, the Director of Centre for Educational Research and Development (CERD) said “It is important to have experienced people in the Council,” he said. “The candidates should be able to measure peoples’ dignity and demand of the august body,” he said.

But one older Council candidate, Pema Tenzin, 56, from Mongar, said that whether the candidates are young or old, their performance would vary between individuals.

One of the youngest candidates, Kesang Dema from Dagana said young people can be as capable, responsible and intellectual, as older people and are sometimes better. Another young candidate from Wangdue Phodrang, Sonam Phuntsho, 28, said that experience would come with qualification.

The past National Assembly, he said, consisted of experienced people but not necessarily qualified people and it was time for the qualified to come forward. “The gewogs should make careful nominations,” he said. The Zhung Kalyon, Dasho Rinzin Gyaltshen said it would be better if the candidates have a few years of experience in the public service.

“Qualification and experience should go side by side,” he said. One farmer from Trashigang told Observer that a blend of both young and old would perfectly deal with the national and the youth issues in the country.

“The experienced lot can guide the younger lot and this is how things will develop,” he said. Another observer, who declined to be named, argued that the young candidates are making a mockery of the future government.

“These people won’t be able to make much of a difference to even a small community let alone the nation as a whole,” he said. Another businessman said that unemployed youths were declaring themselves for Council and some were being encouraged by the political parties.

“The political parties are of the notion that it would be easy for them to pass the Bills in future,” he said.