Lotay Tshering facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lotay Tshering
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བློ་གྲོས་ཚེ་རིང་
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Tshering in 2023
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| Prime Minister of Bhutan | |
| In office 7 November 2018 – 1 November 2023 |
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| Monarch | Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck |
| Preceded by | Tshering Wangchuk (as Chief Advisor) |
| Succeeded by | Chogyal Dago Rigdzin (as Chief Advisor) |
| President of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa | |
| In office 14 May 2018 – January 2025 |
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| Deputy | Sherab Gyaltshen |
| Preceded by | Tandi Dorji |
| Member of the National Assembly of Bhutan | |
| In office 31 October 2018 – November 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Yeshi Zimba |
| Constituency | South Thimphu |
| Majority | 3,662 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 May 1969 |
| Political party | Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa |
| Spouse | Ugyen Dema |
| Children | 3 (two adopted) |
| Alma mater | Mymensingh Medical College (MBBS) Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (MS) University of Canberra (MBA) |
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Dasho Dr. Lotay Tshering (born 10 May 1969) is a Bhutanese politician and a skilled surgeon. He served as the Prime Minister of Bhutan from November 2018 to November 2023. He was also the president of the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) political party until January 2025.
Dr. Lotay Tshering recently stepped down from his political career after 11 years. In October 2024, he was appointed as the Governor of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) in Paro.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Lotay Tshering was born on 10 May 1969, into a simple family. His home village is Dalukha, located in Thimphu.
He went to Punakha High School for his early education. Later, he graduated from Sherubtse College. He then studied medicine at Mymensingh Medical College, earning his MBBS degree in 2001. He continued his studies in surgery, getting his FCPS degree from the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons. He also received an MS degree from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
In 2007, he traveled to the US to study urology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. This was part of a special fellowship from the World Health Organization. When he returned to Bhutan, he was the only trained urologist in the country. In 2010, he further specialized in endourology in Singapore and Japan. He also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Canberra in Australia in 2014.
Family Life
Lotay Tshering is married to Dr. Ugyen Dema. They have one daughter and one son. While working at Mongar Regional Referral Hospital, he also adopted two children, a girl and a boy. Tshering can speak several languages, including Dzongkha, Lotshamkha, Bengali, and English.
Working as a Doctor
Before becoming a politician, Tshering worked as a consultant surgeon. He served at the JDWNRH and Mongar Regional Referral Hospital. He was also a consultant urologist at JDWNRH for 11 years.
In 2013, he decided to leave his medical career to join politics. He paid about 6.2 million Bhutanese ngultrum to the Royal Civil Service Commission to resign.
His Journey in Politics
Tshering first ran in the 2013 Bhutanese National Assembly election but his party did not make it past the first round.
On 14 May 2018, he was elected as the president of the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) party. This happened just five months before the 2018 Bhutanese National Assembly election.
He was elected to the National Assembly of Bhutan from the South Thimphu area in the 2018 election. He won with 3,662 votes, beating his opponent. His party, DNT, won the most seats in the election. This made Lotay Tshering the Prime Minister, and DNT formed the government for the first time.
Becoming Prime Minister
On 7 November 2018, Lotay Tshering was sworn in as the third democratically elected Prime Minister of Bhutan. He took over from Tshering Tobgay.
His first trip outside Bhutan as Prime Minister was to India on 27 December 2018. He also visited Bangladesh in April 2019 and again in March 2021. The second visit was to celebrate Bangladesh's 50th independence anniversary.
His Cabinet
On 3 November 2018, Tshering announced the 10 ministers who would be part of his cabinet. These ministers helped him lead the country.
Awards and Honors
- 1991: He received the Father William Mackey Gold Medal for being an excellent student at Sherubtse College.
- 2005: He was given the Unsung Hero of Compassion Award by the 14th Dalai Lama.
- 2017: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck awarded him the Royal Order of Bhutan Medal (Druk Thuksey). This was for his "selfless and dedicated service" to the King, country, and people.
- 2018: He received the Royal Orange Scarf from the King. This was given to him when he became Prime Minister.
- 2020: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck awarded him the Lungmar Scarf. This special scarf was given for his "unwavering effort and contribution" in fighting the pandemic as Prime Minister. He is only the second person to receive this award since it was created.
See also
- In Spanish: Lotay Tshering para niños
