2016 Central Tibetan Administration general election

Elections for the office of Sikyong (Prime Minister) and the Chitue (Members) of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile were held between October 18, 2015 and March 20, 2016. Tibetans in exile voted for the fourth time their political representative and executive of the Central Tibetan Administration, the self-proclaimed Tibetan government in exile.[1] The election was overseen and organized by the independent CTA agency, Tibetan Election Commission.

2016 Central Tibetan Administration general election
October 18, 2015. March 20, 2016
  First party Second party
 
Candidate Lobsang Sangay Penpa Tsering
Party Endorsed by National Democratic Party Independent
Popular vote 33,234 24,752
Percentage 57.3% 42.7%
Sikyong before election

Lobsang Sangay
Independent

 Elected Sikyong

Lobsang Sangay
Independent

Incumbent Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay[2] ran for re-election, winning with 57.3% of the votes in the second round, over his main rival Speaker of the Parliament in Exile, Penpa Tsering.[3][4] Other candidates were Chairman of the Federation of Tibetan Cooperatives in India, Tashi Wangdu, and former Chinese political prisoner and president of Tibetan Ex-Political Prisoner's Association, Lukar Jam.[1][2]

For the first time this election showed and proliferation of political parties, something unusual in Tibetan politics.[5] The National Democratic Party, a moderate independent leaning party, has traditionally been the only political party in the Tibetan diaspora.[1] The NDPT endorsed both Sangay and Pempa Tsering for their current offices. The pro-Middle Way Approach Tibetan People’s Party endorsed Wangdu[6] and also presented its own candidates for Parliament. The radically separatist Tibetan National Congress endorsed Jam.[7]

Sikyong

Preliminary round

The preliminary round of voting for Sikyong was held on 18 October 2015.[8][9][10] Candidates needed to receive at least 33% of the vote in order to be eligible for the final round.[11]

There were six candidates; Lobsang Sangay (incumbent Sikyong, endorsed by the National Democratic Party), Penpa Tsering (Speaker of Parliament, also endorsed by NDPT), Atsok Lukar Jam (former political prisoner and activist, endorsed by Tibetan National Congress), Tashi Wangdu (President of the Federation of Tibetan Cooperatives in India, endorsed by People's Party of Tibet), Tashi Topgyal (independent candidate) and Samdhong Rinpoche. All candidates except Jam (who wants full independence of Tibet from China) supported the Middle Way Approach to Chinese-Tibetan relations. This is the same approach endorsed by the Dalai Lama and seeks to achieve real autonomy for Tibet inside the Chinese territory.[2]

CTA Sikyong election preliminary round, 2016[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
National Democratic Party Lobsang Sangay 30,508 66.71
National Democratic Party Penpa Tsering 10,732 23.45
Tibetan National Congress Atsok Lukar Jam 2,557 5.59
People's Party of Tibet Tashi Wangdu 1,880 4.11
Independent Tashi Topgyal 38 0.08
Independent Samdhong Rinpoche 18 0.04
Total formal votes 45,733 - -

Final round
CTA Sikyong election final round, 2016[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
National Democratic Party Lobsang Sangay 33,876 57.08
National Democratic Party Penpa Tsering 24,864 41.89
Total formal votes 58,740 99.9 -
Informal votes 613 0.01 -
Turnout 59,353 100 -
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References
  1. "Some Predictions and Thoughts on the 2016 Tibetan Election Season". The Tibetan Political Review. June 16, 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  2. Tenzin, Pam (16 July 2015). "The Race for Sikyong". Tibet Sun. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  3. "Sikyong 2016: Final round results". Tibet Sun. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  4. "2016 TIBETAN PM (SIKYONG) ELECTIONS RESULTS". Phayul. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  5. "Tibetan Parliament in Exile To See First Ever Opposition Party". The Tibet Post. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  6. "Mr Tashi Wangdu - Sikyong 2016". Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  7. "New Party Fuels Debate on Tibet's Political Future". Radio Free Asia. 2013-02-22. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  8. "Exile Tibetan elections: Preliminary round 18 October, final 20 March". Tibet Sun. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  9. "Election Commission Announces Preliminary and Final Election Dates for Sikyong and 16th Tibetan Parliament". June 10, 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  10. "Tibetans Worldwide Hold Preliminary Election for Sikyong and Tibetan Parliament". October 18, 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  11. "Tibetans Vote to Elect Political Leader, Parliamentarians". NDTV. October 18, 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  12. "Election Commission Declares Result of Preliminary Election of Sikyong and Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile". Central Tibetan Administration. 2015-12-04. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
  13. "Final Results of Sikyong and Tibetan Parliamentary Elections Declared". Central Tibetan Administration. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
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