Nepal Swears In First Female Interim PM Amidst Unrest, Elections Set for March
Nepal Swears In First Female Interim PM Amidst Unrest, Elections Set for March
Nepal has inaugurated its first female interim Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, 73, following a week of deadly anti-corruption protests that led to the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Karki, a former Supreme Court chief justice, took the oath of office on Friday evening after a deal was struck with protest leaders, aiming to restore stability to the Himalayan nation.
The widespread unrest, which saw more than 50 people killed in clashes with riot police, was initially sparked by a government ban on social media platforms earlier this week. Although the ban was swiftly lifted, the protests escalated into a mass movement, with angry crowds setting fire to parliament and government buildings in Kathmandu on Tuesday, forcing Oli’s resignation.
Parliament was dissolved late Friday, and general elections have been scheduled for March 5 next year, with the new interim government tasked with holding the vote within six months. Karki, widely respected for her clean image and supported by ‘Gen Z’ student leaders, now faces the formidable challenge of restoring law and order, rebuilding damaged infrastructure, and reassuring a populace concerned about the future of Nepal’s young democracy.
Her appointment is the result of intensive talks brokered by Nepal’s army chief. The protests, fueled by a ‘nepo kid’ campaign highlighting alleged corruption and lavish lifestyles of the political elite, have brought to light deep-seated discontent with the country’s political establishment.
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