Jigme Yoser Thinley is the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Bhutan. He held the office from April 2008 to April 2013. Prior to the beginning of democracy in Nepal, he served as Prime Minister twice, from July 20, 1998, to July 9, 1999, and from August 30, 2003, to August 20, 2004. Prior to his political career he was engaged with the Royal Government of Bhutan for over three decades as a civil servant holding various senior positions including that in the ‘Department of Home Affairs’. He remained administrator of the Eastern Zone and also served as secretary in the ‘Ministry of Home Affairs’. He held several significant political positions before becoming the Lyonchen. He was inducted as the ‘Deputy Minister of Home Affairs’ and thereafter served as ‘Minister of Foreign Affairs’ and ‘Minister of Home and Cultural Affairs’. He was ‘Permanent Representative’ of Bhutan to the ‘United Nations’ office and also in other international organisations in Geneva. He is the recipient of the Red Scarf and the Orange Scarf and was also conferred with the title of ‘Dasho’.