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Lungten Dorji (born c. 1964) is a Bhutanese politician and former civil servant. He was Speaker of the National Assembly of Bhutan from 25 January 2024 until August 2026, and has been Minister of Home Affairs (Nangsid Lyonpo) since 27 August 2026. He represents the Panbang constituency of Zhemgang for the People's Democratic Party (PDP).^[1]

Before entering politics he spent more than 27 years in the civil service, including about a decade as dzongdag (district administrator) of Trashigang and Trongsa and a term as Director General of the Department of Local Governance.^[2] His resignation as Speaker in August 2026, made so that he could take over the Home Ministry, opened the way for the election of Tempa Dorji of the opposition Bhutan Tendrel Party as Speaker, the first time the chair had gone to an opposition member since parliamentary democracy began in 2008.^[3]

Offices: Speaker of the National Assembly (25 January 2024 – August 2026); Minister of Home Affairs (from 27 August 2026)
Constituency: Panbang, Zhemgang Dzongkhag
Party: People's Democratic Party
Education: Master's degree in public administration, International Institute of Public Administration, Paris
Preceded as Speaker by: Wangchuk Namgyel; succeeded by: Tempa Dorji

Civil service career

Lungten Dorji holds a master's degree in public administration from the International Institute of Public Administration in Paris. His civil service posts included Deputy Director in the Department of Immigration and Census and Head of the Office of the Census Commissioner. He then served about ten years as dzongdag, the senior civil administrator of a district, in Trashigang and Trongsa, before becoming Director General of the Department of Local Governance.^[2] Published profiles do not give the dates of each posting. The Bhutanese later cited his experience as a Director General as a reason the PDP saw him as a suitable Home Minister.^[3]

Electoral politics

2018 candidacy

In June 2018 the PDP named Lungten Dorji, then 54, as its candidate for Panbang in the third National Assembly elections.^[2] The PDP finished third in that year's primary round and was eliminated, so its candidates did not contest the general round.^[4] See 2018 National Assembly elections.

2023–24 election

He stood again for Panbang in the 2023–24 National Assembly election. In the primary round held on 30 November 2023, the PDP polled 2,628 votes in Panbang (1,311 by voting machine and 1,317 by postal ballot), ahead of the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa with 2,104. The PDP carried both Zhemgang constituencies.^[5] In the general round on 9 January 2024, the Election Commission of Bhutan declared him elected for Panbang, one of 30 PDP seats in the 47-member house.^[6]

Speaker of the National Assembly

At the first sitting of the Fourth National Assembly on 25 January 2024, members elected Lungten Dorji Speaker by secret ballot, 46 votes to 1. Sangay Khandu of Tashicholing, Samtse, was elected Deputy Speaker in the same sitting.^[1]^[7] The opposition Bhutan Tendrel Party did not field a candidate; its MP Loday Tsheten later said this was because Lungten Dorji was regarded as a credible choice.^[3] King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck conferred the dakyen (letter of appointment) on him, along with the Prime Minister and cabinet, on 28 January 2024.^[8]

The Speaker presides over the house, enforces its rules of procedure and nominates candidates for certain constitutional posts.^[7] Loday Tsheten, speaking after Lungten Dorji left the chair, said the former Speaker "had been strengthening the institution".^[3]

Resignation and Home Ministry

On 15 August 2026 it was announced that the King had accepted Lungten Dorji's resignation as Speaker. With Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay abroad, Lungten Dorji chaired a meeting of PDP MPs that evening, at which members were told a new Speaker had to be chosen by 19 August.^[3] The Bhutanese reported that he was expected to take over the Ministry of Home Affairs, which had been without a minister since Tshering resigned from the cabinet earlier that month.^[3]

PDP secretary general Kuenga Tashi said Lungten Dorji "submitted his resignation after discussing the matter with the Prime Minister", who wanted someone able to give him greater support in government, and denied that the change reflected on his work: "Former Speaker Lungten Dorji served well; he did not fail in his role."^[9] The PDP put forward Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk to succeed him, but on 19 August 2026 the house elected Tempa Dorji by 24 votes to 23.^[3]

The King conferred the dakyen on Lungten Dorji as Minister of Home Affairs on 27 August 2026, and he joined the ministry the same day.^[10] He sits in the Tobgay cabinet.

Sources and gaps

Published biographical information on Lungten Dorji is limited to candidate profiles and official notices. His exact date and place of birth, his undergraduate education and the years of his individual civil service postings have not been confirmed in a primary or news source, and are left out here.

Lungten Dorji