Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel has announced that the country will hold elections on March 5, after the 275-seat parliament was dissolved. This decision follows a time of intense public protest and the appointment of Sushila Karki as the interim prime minister. Karki is the first woman to serve as head of government in Nepal.
The recent unrest, mainly led by Gen Z, began in response to a government ban on social media platforms. It quickly expanded into a broader movement against alleged corruption and favoritism among political leaders. Protests led to major unrest, with demonstrators setting fire to parliament and the homes of top politicians. This chaos forced former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.
Although the protests have since calmed, they resulted in at least 51 deaths, including 21 protesters and three police officers. More than 12,500 prisoners who escaped from various jails throughout the country remain free. The deep anger among protesters also stems from economic issues, like a high unemployment rate that has caused millions of young Nepalis to seek jobs abroad. The contrast between the struggles of the youth and the opulent lifestyles of political leaders fueled the demonstrations.
Sushila Karki took on the role of interim prime minister after two days of intense talks among the president, the army chief, and protest leaders. The announcement received a positive response from neighboring India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating Karki and showing India’s commitment to Nepal’s peace, progress, and prosperity. While China has not yet commented on the new prime minister, it previously called for calm and the restoration of order during the protests.
