PM proposes sacking of FM
Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has proposed to sack his foreign minister, Rinzin Dorje, who is on "authorised leave" since January due to corruption charges.
The minister was exonerated by a district court for a charge that dates back to his tenure as the governor of Haa district, a small district bordering Autonomous region of Tibet. He was charged for embezzlement of public property and misuse of functions.
But the country's anti-graft commission appealed to the High Court prolonging his “authorised leave”.
The recommendation was submitted to King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, which also includes transferring the home minister Damcho Dorji as the foreign minister and the Bong-Chapcha member of parliament as the new home minister.
According to the country’s constitution, the sacking and new appointment is subject to the king’s approval. Article 17, section 3 states that the king shall appoint ministers from among the members of the National Assembly, on the recommendation of the prime minister, or shall remove a minister on the advice of the prime minister.
Rinzin said he respect’s the prime minister’s decision, refusing to comment further.
While the Cabinet ministers were not available for comments, prime minister’s press secretary Tshering Wangmo said the recommendation to remove the incumbent foreign minister from the Cabinet has been submitted to the king. “Lyonchoen had already discussed the issue with the foreign minister,” she said.
The decision was reached despite lyonpo Rinzin Dorje’s acquittal by the Haa disctrict court and an appeal against the verdict to the High Court. The High Court is yet to start it’s hearing on the appeal case.
Some of the parliament members from the ruling party said the decision came as a surprise and that they were not consulted.
However, People’s Democratic Party spokesperson Ritu Raj Chhetri said the issue was discussed in the executive committee that is chaired by the prime minister. “The executive is the highest decision-making body in line with our party charter,” he said, adding that the parliament members were briefed by lyonchoen on the decision yesterday.
On the late decision despite the minister being acquitted, Ritu Raj Chhetri said that they had to take “national interest over individual interest.”
Ritu Raj Chhetri said that the precedence in other countries is such that a parliamentarian or a Cabinet minister takes moral responsibility when involved in a corruption case. “In our case, it didn’t happen the way it should have happened, as no person is guilty unless proven,” the Tashichoeling representative said.
