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Tuesday March 25, 4:45 AM Democracy comes to kingdom of Bhutan Photo: AFP THIMPHU, Bhutan (AFP) - Bhutan brought down the curtain on a century of absolute monarchy Monday, as the king's subjects elected the remote Himalayan nation's first democratic government. The landmark vote was proposed by Bhutan's royal family to peacefully transform the small Buddhist kingdom, wedged in the mountains between massive neighbours India and China, into a constitutional monarchy. The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) or Bhutan United Party made an unexpected clean sweep by winning 44 of the total 47 seats for the lower house in what was seen to be a tight two-party race, the Election Commission said. "We have the DPT winning as of now 44 of the 47 seats," chief election commissioner Kunzang Wangdi told a news conference in the capital Thimphu. "There is total amazement in the party. The results are far beyond our expectations," party spokesman Palden Tshering told AFP. DPT leader Jigmi Thinley -- a two-time former premier under the previous royal governments who holds a public administration masters degree from Pennsylvania State University -- is expected to be the new prime minister. But the country's young Oxford-educated sovereign, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, is expected to retain a strong influence over the running of the country -- which has long boasted that its goal is "Gross National Happiness". Despite the election excitement, many people here view the concept of democracy with some alarm, and the king made a last-minute pitch to his people at the weekend to try to get them to take part. His appeal seemed to have worked, as an election commission official reported nearly 80 percent turnout, as voters turned up in large numbers wearing fine traditional clothes specially for the historic occasion. "This is the first time I'm voting," said Lhamchum, a smiling 68-year-old housewife who turned up with nine family members to cast their ballots. The switch to democracy is a major step for Bhutan, which is about the size of Switzerland and is one of the most insular countries on the planet. Before the king's dynasty took over in 1907, the country was divided up into countless local fiefdoms. It had no roads, telephones or currency until the 1960s, and only allowed television in 1999. The landlocked country, which calls itself "The Land of the Thunder Dragon", was also never colonised. For centuries the Bhutanese relished their isolation, maintaining a barter economy and allowing few foreigners to visit. The educated elite have traditionally dominated politics, and indeed only university graduates were allowed to stand for the 47 seats in the new National Assembly. The candidates represented the DPT and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), which campaigned on the slogan: "Service with Humility: We Walk the Talk." Both parties promised to stick by the royal concept of Gross National Happiness, but also pledged to boost growth and develop roads and other infrastructure. Election officials at polling stations handed out badges reading "I voted in the National Assembly Elections 2008." "We are very excited. It's a very proud moment for us because of the way democracy has started. We didn't have to fight for it," said Tshewang Tashi, a 41-year-old civil servant. Pema, a 28-year-old teacher, said the idea of democratic change was good news -- but still somewhat troubling. "We are very happy. Sometimes we worry because it's a new system. We don't know if the prime minister will serve like the king," she said. Tsherap Dorji, 25, said Bhutan's "sovereignty and security" would be safer if the king had remained in full control. The kingdom's move to democracy began in 2001 when former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck handed over daily government to a council of ministers and finally stepped down in favour of his son in late 2006. Meanwhile, the United States on Monday congratulated the people of Bhutan on the elections. "This event... marks another positive step in Bhutan's transition to a democratic, constitutional monarchy," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement. The results will be officially announced on Tuesday.