Editing Politics of Bhutan (section)

====Political parties and elections====
{{Main|Elections in Bhutan|List of political parties in Bhutan}}

In Bhutan, [[list of political parties in Bhutan|political parties]], [[elections in Bhutan|elections, and referendums]] are overseen by the Election Commission, an independent government regulatory agency.<ref name=CoBE/><ref name=EA08>{{cite web|url=http://publicofficialsfinancialdisclosure.worldbank.org/sites/fdl/files/assets/law-library-files/Bhutan_Election%20Act_2008_en.pdf|title=Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2008|publisher=[[Government of Bhutan]]|date=2008-07-28|access-date=2017-08-16}}</ref>

Candidates for most elections and appointments in Bhutan must be non-partisan; however, political parties may slate candidates for seats in the [[National Assembly of Bhutan|National Assembly]]. The party that wins the most seats nominates the [[Prime Minister of Bhutan|Prime Minister]].<ref name=CoBE/> The first Prime Minister, [[Jigme Thinley]], was a member of the [[Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party]]. The second Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay, heads the People's Democratic Party. The current Prime Minister, Dr. Lotay Tshering, heads the Druk Nyamrup Tshongpa.

Political pressure groups include the Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant anti-government campaign; Indian merchant community and the exiled United Front for Democracy.