2021 Central Tibetan Administration general election
18 October 2021 (first round)
20 March 2022 (second round) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2021 Central Tibetan Administration general election elected its next leader, the Sikyong, for the Central Tibetan Administration, a government-in-exile of Tibet based in India. Candidate Penpa Tsering won the election and succeeded Dr. Lobsang Sangay, who had served two consecutive terms as Sikyong.[1]
Candidates
The first Tibetans to publicly announce their proposed candidacy for the position were former minister Dolma Gyari; former minister, representative of the Dalai Lama in America and acting president of the Tibet Fund Lobsang Nyandak;[2] and member of parliament Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok.[3]
Kelsang Dorjee Aukatsang, Tashi Wangdu, and Penpa Tsering then announced their candidacies on 2 September 2020.[4] Ngodup Dongchung announced his candidacy on 9 September,[5] and Tashi Topgyal on 10 September.[6]
Background
Throughout 2020, a civil society initiative called Smartvote Tibet[7] invited Tibetans to submit questions for Sikyong and MP candidates in order to build an informed electorate. Smartvote Tibet is an initiative formed by a group of Tibetans.[8] the candidates answer questions submitted on a wide range of current issues. Then, voters can answer the same set of questions, after which they receive a list of candidates who best match their preferences.
The project Smartvote Tibet was covered by Tibetan media outlets such as Radio Free Europe,[9] Voice of Tibet[10] and Phayul.[11]
History
Hundreds of voters, most wearing facemasks, using hand sanitizer, and maintaining social distancing, voted in Dharamshala, India.[12]
Following the primary, the two Sikyong candidates receiving the highest vote share move on to the second round. The date for the second round was set for 20 March.[13][14]
References
- ^ Tibetan Exiles Continue Experiment in Democracy as New Elections Near, Radio Free Asia, 22 July 2020
- ^ "Why I am supporting Lobsang Nyandak for Sikyong 2021 .:. Tibet Sun". www.tibetsun.com. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ Choekyi Lhamo, Preparations for 2021 general elections underway, says Election Commissioner, Phayul.com, 27 July 2020
- ^ Lobsang Tenchoe, Penpa Tsering throws his hat into 2021 Sikyong election, tibetexpress.net, 3 September 2020
- ^ Tenzin Dharpo, Kasur Ngodup Dongchung to run for 2021 Sikyong election, Phayul.com, 9 September 2020
- ^ Choekyi Lhamo, Tashi Topgyal to run for Sikyong office for the second time, Phayul.com, 10 September 2020
- ^ Smartvote Tibet
- ^ "Tibetan General Elections". smartvote Tibet. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
- ^ RFA. "Radio Free Asia". Facebook.
- ^ Voice of Tibet (20 December 2020). Smart Vote Tibet: In conversation with the people behind the project. Retrieved 10 September 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ "SmartVote Tibet updates website ahead of final elections". Phayul. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
- ^ "India: Tibetans in exile vote to elect new political leader". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera English. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ Choekyi Lhamo, EC declares electoral schedule for 2021 general elections, Phayul.com, 28 September 2020
- ^ "Tibetan Diaspora to Vote for Next Government-in-Exile Leader on Jan. 3". 23 December 2020.