By Kalsang Rinchen
Dharamsala, March 21 – The ninth session of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile passed a resolution that amended the electoral rules of the exile Tibetan government allowing an unopposed candidate to be declared the winner in the Kalon Tripa election in future.
The amendment was made on the Section 67, clause 4 of the Electoral Rules & Regulation of the Election Commission of the exile Tibetan Government.
However, the unopposed candidate must attain 51% of votes cast in the preliminary election. If the unopposed candidate fails to attain this majority in the preliminary elections, the Commission will call for a re-election.
The old rule required at least two candidates for the final election of Kalon Tripa. The incumbent Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche swept the preliminary election in the first general election for Kalon Tripa in 2001 but he could not have become the first directly elected Kalon Tripa without opposition from Juchen Thupten, who had said he was standing in the election to avoid re-election.
The ninth session of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile concluded yesterday.
