Jigme Thinley

Lyonpo Jigme Yoser Thinley (Dzongkha: འཇིགས་མེད་འོད་ཟེར་འཕྲིན་ལས་; Wylie: 'Jigs-med 'Od-zer 'Phrin-las) (born 9 September 1952) is a Bhutanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Bhutan for three nonconsecutive terms, from 20 July 1998 to 9 July 1999, 30 August 2003 to 18 August 2004 and 9 April 2008 to 28 April 2013.

Biography Thinley was born in Bumthang and joined the civil service in 1976 upon receiving a graduate degree from The Pennsylvania State University. He received an undergraduate degree from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.

In February 1987, Thinley was awarded the title of Dasho and the Red Scarf, and in 1990, under the zonal system, he became administrator of the Eastern Zone. He then became secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1992 before being appointed Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in January 1994, at which time he was also awarded the Orange Scarf. Later in 1994, he was appointed Bhutan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations office and other international organizations in Geneva.

In July 2009, Thinley became a member of the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation's International Advisory Board.

Personal life His son Palden married Princess Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck on 11 November 2008.

His wife Aum Rinsy Dem died in Bangkok on 28 November 2018.

He has honorary doctorates from KIIT University and University of Louvain (UCLouvain).

Honours He has honorary doctorates from KIIT University and University of Louvain (UCLouvain).