Kalon Tripa

Prime Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration

Emblem of Tibet
Incumbent
Lobsang Sangay
since 8 August 2011
Residence Kashag
Dharamsala, India
Appointer 14th Dalai Lama
as Head of State
Term length 5 years
Inaugural holder Jangsa Tsang
Formation 31 March 1959
Website http://www.tibet.net

The Kalon Tripa, also Tibetan Prime Minister or "Chief Kalon", is the leader of the Kashag or Cabinet, part of the executive branch of the Central Tibetan Administration, a government in exile that claims the territory of the Tibetan Autonomous Region in China. It should not be confused with the Chairman of the government of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

The first Kalon Tripa was Lobsang Tenzin, who was elected August 20, 2001.[1]

Before this democratic election process, the Kalon Tripa position was subordinate to the 14th Dalai Lama[2] who is the actual head of the government.[3]

Lobsang Sangay is confirmed as the new Kalon Tripa of the Tibetan Government in Exile, heralding a new era in Tibetan politics. The results were given in a live broadcast in Dharmsala, with Election Commissioner Jampal Chosang announcing that Lobsang Sangay polled 55 per cent votes out of 49,189, defeating his nearest rival Tethong Tenzin Namgyal by 8,646 votes.

References

  1. ^ Donovan Roebert, Samdhong Rinpoche: Uncompromising Truth for a Compromised World (World Wisdom, 2006) ISBN 978-1933316208 (On August 20, 2001, Venerable Professor Samdhong Rinpoche was elected Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister) of the Tibetan Government in Exile, receiving 84.5% of the popular exile vote.)
  2. ^ The Charter of Tibetans in-Exile, Article 20 of the Constitution of Tibet, retrieved 2010-03-19.
  3. ^ The Charter of Tibetans in-Exile, Articles 19, 30, & 31 of the Constitution of Tibet, rerieved 2010-03-19.

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