June 19: The National Assembly after much deliberation decided to remove section 40 and 41 of the National Assembly bill of the kingdom of Bhutan 2008.

The two sections require the National Assembly Speaker to resign from his party after he is elected as the speaker though he may rejoin his party after he completes his term.

Section 40 of the National Assembly bill states that the Speaker shall not retain any party registry from the date on which he is elected as such and while he remains in his office. Section 41 states that when the Speaker who has left a party registry under section 40 has completed his term of office, he shall return to the political party whereto he had belonged at the time of leaving such party registry.

The Goenkhatey-Laya constituency member Damcho Dorji asked if the Speaker ceases to be a member of the party from the day he is conferred Dakyen then who will represent the Speaker’s constituency. He said the very purpose of holding the election was to elect representatives from the constituencies to the National Assembly. He added if the Speaker ceases to be a member of the party then he is also not a member of the National Assembly.

The Health Minister Lyonpo Zangley Drukpa said according to article 12, section 3 of the Constitution the Speaker has to be elected from among its members. Many more members stood up to support the submission.

The Speaker Tshogpon Jigmi Tshultrim suggested if a clause stating that the Speaker has to remain bipartisan could be added instead.

The representative from Bumdeling-Jamkhar constituency in Trashiyangtse Duptob said section 40 should not be removed. He said if the Speaker resigns from his party, it will ensure that the Speaker will remain bipartisan.

The representative from Bji-Katsho-Uesu constituency in Haa Ugyen Tenzin said the two clauses should be removed. He said the Speaker alone will not decide the issues, it will be decided by the members.

The Opposition Leader Tshering Tobgay said if the Speaker remains a member of the party, he will have to work according to the party charter. This he said may obstruct the Speaker from carrying out his duties.

After much deliberation, the house decided to remove section 40 and 41 from the act and add a clause under a new section 40 which will state that the speaker shall remain bipartisan in fulfilling his role.