Bhutan holds second 'fake' poll

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The tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is holding its second mock election as it prepares for the first general election in its history next year.

The idea is to familiarise the people of this isolated nation with the concept of parliamentary democracy.

Only 30% of eligible voters took part in the first practice poll last month.

Officials say teaching the Bhutanese to embrace democracy is being hampered by low literacy levels and the remoteness of much of the country.

The kingdom has declared Monday as a national holiday to enable people to turn out to vote.

"This was recommended by the international observers for the primary round of mock elections and hopefully, the voter turn out would increase with this decision," chief election commissioner, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi was quoted as saying by the Kuensel newspaper.

The mock polls were ordered by the former king, Jigme Wangchuck, who wants Bhutan's 700,000 people to familiarise themselves with democracy.

In 1998 the king gave up absolute power and in 2006 he abdicated to his son.

But many still hold much affection for the former king, who once said that Bhutan's priority was not its GDP but its gross national happiness.