Michael Simkins in The National:
An extraordinary event occurred in world politics last week. The world’s newest head of an independent democracy was carried to power in an event that nobody who witnessed it will ever forget.
Even the circumstances of his triumph were significant, in that it was greeted by almost universal acclaim throughout the nation, as well as delivering him a clear mandate for government. Better still, the successful candidate was in the prime of his manhood, vigorous, dashing, and unblemished by corruption or wizened by age. Hallelujah!
No, not Barack Obama. Sorry, you obviously lost me for a moment there. I’m talking about the coronation of Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck as the new King of Bhutan.
How to beat the financial blues, Bhutan style
AFP reports from Thimphu:
“It’s the materialism, who can make the bigger buck, overnight fast money that caused the problems,” said Phurb Dorji, a doctor who works in a Thimphu hospital and is a big fan of the official national philosophy.
“The whole world is going towards materialism, and the more they get the more they want. But they’re still not happy. They don’t need to copy us, but they should take a look at other ways.”
Bhutan has been pursuing GNH for the past few decades: it was conceived by the country’s last king, and the new monarch — 28-year-old Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who was crowned on Thursday — says it will remain a policy centrepiece.
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