Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, May 18: Tashi Delek was sworn in on Monday as the newest member of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile following the resignation of Europe and Africa MP Thubten Wangchen, who was recently appointed as the Representative for South America under the Office of Tibet.
Tashi Delek, who secured 2,657 votes in the 2021 parliamentary elections, had ranked third in the Europe and Africa constituency and was first on the waiting list. He formally took the oath of office before Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel in the presence of Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering and members of the Standing Committee. His term, however, will remain in effect only until May 30.
The replacement of any parliamentarian, in accordance with the Article 57 clause (II), is made from a reserve waiting list maintained by the Central Election Commission for the concerned constituency on the basis of the required minimum number of votes won by the candidates who did not make it to the parliament during the general election in 2021, and who had the highest number of votes among those in the existing reserve list.
The appointment has also prompted discussion among some observers, who questioned the practicality of administering a parliamentary appointment for a term lasting less than two weeks, particularly given the travel and administrative expenses involved at a time when the incoming members of the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile are set to assume office on May 31.
Speaking to the press after the oath-taking ceremony, MP Tashi Delek said he was initially contacted by the Central Election Commission office around May 5 regarding the appointment. At first, he questioned the practicality of assuming office for such a brief period, noting that only 13 days remained in the parliamentary term. He also reflected on the long journey, the expenses involved, and the fact that parliamentary sessions had already concluded.
Despite his initial hesitation, he explained that officials informed him that he was required to appear on May 18 to formally take the oath of office in accordance with the Charter of Tibetans in Exile and the election rules and regulations. He said he felt there was little room for personal preference in the matter and emphasized the importance of respecting institutional procedures and upholding the rule of law within the exile Tibetan administration.
“To speak frankly, our government-in-exile is modest in nature, and it cannot function effectively if individuals act solely according to personal convenience,” he said, adding that it was important for Tibetans themselves to support and strengthen their institutions.
Recalling his decision to contest the parliamentary elections, Tashi Delek said he had entered public service with the conviction that he would carry out any responsibility entrusted to him by the Tibetan administration. Therefore, upon receiving the official notification, he felt morally obligated to accept the position and fulfill the duty. Refusing to do so, he added, would have reflected poorly on his personal integrity.
MP Tashi Delek was born in 1980 in Minyak, Tibet. He began his monastic education at the age of eight and later pursued Buddhist and traditional studies at the Serta Larung Gar Buddhist Institute. After arriving in India as a refugee in 2002, he continued his studies at Sherab Gatsel Lobling School, a school for newly arrived Tibetans, formerly known as the Tibetan Transit School (TTS), based in Dharamshala, where he also taught Tibetan language to newly arrived students.
From 2007 onward, he worked as a journalist for Tibet Times and the Tibetan service of Voice of America. In 2013, he moved to Belgium, where he served as Secretary and Education Officer for a Tibetan cultural and religious organization. He has also held positions in various community organizations, including the Chushi Gangdruk regional association in South India and the Khampa Writers’ Association, where he served as its first General Secretary.
