The main challenge remains: some parties want a new prime minister appointed without dissolving parliament, while the Gen Z-led protest movement favors dissolving it.
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Nepal is in the midst of a political storm as talks to appoint an interim prime minister faced a delay on Friday. A meeting scheduled at the President’s residence for 9 am was postponed by a few hours because political groups needed more time for internal discussions.
President Ram Chandra Paudel had spent the night holding discussions with different parties, trying to find common ground. The main challenge remains: some parties want a new prime minister appointed without dissolving parliament, while the Gen Z-led protest movement favors dissolving it.
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Constitutionally, anyone who is not a member of parliament cannot be appointed as prime minister. This adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
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After intense negotiations, both the protesting Gen Z faction and the political parties have agreed on one candidate: former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. In an earlier conversation with The Statesman, Karki has expressed her willingness to take on the responsibility.
However, agreement on the parliamentary process for her approval has yet to be finalized.
The push for Karki’s leadership came after two days of anti-corruption protests organized by Gen Z activists. The protests, aimed at challenging government corruption, gained momentum after the government, led by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, had temporarily blocked 26 social media platforms, including Facebook.
In response, Gen Z activists launched the ‘Nepobabies’ campaign. They took to the streets in demonstrations.
Monday’s protests turned deadly when police used excessive force, leaving at least 19 people dead and over 200 injured. By midweek, the death toll had risen to 36, including some police officers.
On Tuesday, despite a government-imposed curfew, protesters breached security perimeters and entered the parliament building in Baneshwor. Fires were set inside the building. Protesters moved on to other key locations, including the administrative hub at Singha Durbar and the Supreme Court.
Following these events, the Nepali army stepped in to facilitate dialogue between Gen Z leaders and political parties.
President Paudel has also consulted constitutional experts to explore ways to proceed within the legal framework. Former Chief Justice Karki has already had repeated talks with the president and top military officials. She has signalled her readiness to lead an interim government.
Nepal now waits as the political and legal processes continue.
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