His Majesty The King graced the opening ceremony of the Fifth Session of the Fourth Parliament, today. His Majesty was received in a traditional Chibdrel procession by the Prime Minister, the National Assembly speaker, the National Council Chairperson, the Opposition Leader, and Members of Parliament.
Opening the session, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Lungten Dorji, expressed the Parliament’s gratitude to His Majesty The King for gracing the ceremony despite His Majesty’s numerous national responsibilities.
The Speaker also extended a warm welcome to the parliamentary delegation from India, led by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh. The visit further strengthens the parliamentary cooperation and longstanding friendship between Bhutan and India.
The Parliament also offered felicitations to His Majesty The King and Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen on being formally presented with the 2025 Hadrian Award by the World Monuments Fund in recognition of Their Majesties’ leadership in preserving Bhutan’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
Highlighting His Majesty’s vision for the Gelephu Mindfulness City, the Speaker said the ongoing religious projects initiated under the Royal Command will strengthen Bhutan’s spiritual foundations and support holistic national development.
“In His boundless vision to strengthen Bhutan as a radiant and enduring bastion of Vajrayana Buddhism, His Majesty the King, by Royal Decree granted on 18 May 2025, ordained the establishment of eight sacred religious projects at the historic Simtokha Dzong. In pursuance of this most noble command, revered projects such as the Ugyen Norlha Lhakhang, the Buddhanath Stupa, and Ugyen Samyeling have commenced with solemn and auspicious groundbreaking ceremonies, and dedicated efforts are being undertaken with unwavering devotion to bring these sacred visions to full fruition,” said Lungten Dorji, Speaker, National Assembly.
The Speaker noted that the GMC project has emerged as a powerful platform for national solidarity, bringing together people from all walks of life with a common sense of purpose.
“His Majesty the King, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen, Their Royal Highnesses the Princes and Princesses, and the Members of the Royal Family have themselves led by example, participating alongside the people in voluntary service at the Gelephu Mindfulness City. This noble and selfless act of leadership has not only inspired the nation but has also elevated Bhutan’s image in the eyes of the world.”
The Parliament also expressed gratitude for His Majesty’s continued commitment to youth empowerment through the De-Suung, Gyalsung, and Pelsung programmes, and for granting land kidu and citizenship to beneficiaries across the country.
During the summer session, the Parliament will deliberate on several key legislations, including the Budget Appropriation Bill for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the Insolvency and Rehabilitation Bill, and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, among others. The joint sitting will also discuss the Annual Audit Report and the Prime Minister’s annual report on the State of the Nation.
Following the Parliament’s opening ceremony, the 37th session of the National Council also commenced this afternoon. During the month-long session, the house will deliberate on eight bills, two agreements, and one convention, in addition to reviewing reports and follow-up reports.
These include the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, the Renewable Energy Tax Exemption Bill of Bhutan, the Livestock Bill, and the Cooperatives and Farmer Groups Bill. The members will also review reports on the National Pension and Provident Fund and satellite towns in Bhutan, among others. The deliberations will begin tomorrow with a follow-up on the resolutions of the last session.
Namgay Wangdi & Tashi Dekar
Edited by Sonam Wangdi
