Penpa Tsering Elected President of Central Tibetan Administration
After the final round on 11 April, the results of the presidential elections confirmed Penpa Tsering as the new Sikyong
The Sikyong is the Tibetan head of state, equivalent to a president. The Sikyong heads the Central Tibetan Administration, located in Dharamsala in northern India.
Penpa Tsering (left) with the outgoing Sikyong Lobsang Sangay (right)
Out of a total of 63,991 votes cast in the final round, 34,324 votes went in favour of Tsering, whereas contender Kalsang Dorjee Aukatsang received 28,907, said Chief Election Commissioner of the Tibetan government Wangdu Tsering Pesur during an online press briefing.
Over 83,000 Tibetans living in 26 countries participated in the third and final round of voting for the election to the post of Sikyong on 11 April. The former speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile will become Sikyong 2021 at the end of May.
The appointment of 45 members of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile was also announced. They will include 10 members representing each of Tibet’s three traditional provinces – U-Tsang, Kham and Amdo – and two representatives from each of Tibet’s four major schools of Buddhism and pre-Buddhist Bon religion.
