Event Summary
After a period of serious political and social crisis and three days of arduous negotiations, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed as Nepal’s 42nd Prime Minister, leading an interim government on 12 September 2025. This critical agreement, reached among key stakeholders including the President’s Office, the Nepali Army, Gen Z leaders, and major political parties, culminated in her appointment under Article 61 (4) of the constitution. Given that she is not a Member of Parliament, her selection deviates from the usual constitutional provision requiring the Prime Minister to be from within the parliament, highlighting the extraordinary circumstances.
Immediately following her appointment, Prime Minister Karki declared parliamentary elections to be held on 4 March 2026. The existing House of Representatives was dissolved upon her recommendation late Friday night, while the National Assembly will remain intact. The new Prime Minister has constituted a small cabinet comprising non-political public figures. This formation follows widespread anti-corruption protests by Gen Z youths, initially ignited by a social media ban. The government’s initial response involved extreme suppression, resulting in at least 74 deaths including 3 police fatalities. Hospitals were overwhelmed with hundreds of injured. This escalating violence and public outcry led to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s resignation, as key political leaders proved unable to manage the crisis. While the protests have ceased, significant disruptions to public services and governance structures persist, indicating a challenging period ahead for the public until normalcy is restored.
Civil society and political parties have largely expressed gratitude to the President for de-escalating the Gen Z protest, yet they have simultaneously raised serious concerns regarding the dissolution of a parliament that had over two and a half years remaining in its tenure. The NGO Federation of Nepal, along with other civil society organizations and networks, has issued press releases arguing that this action could negatively impact democracy and freedom of expression by dissolving the people’s representation office. They have also suggested the formation of an independent body to investigate government suppression during the protests and to address the core issues raised by Gen Z. Civil society groups are emphasizing the need to ensure peace, human rights, and the protection of children from violence. They are also working to create pressure on the government and major political parties to negotiate and address the demands of Gen Z.
Key recommendations include:
- Engage with the interim government to ensure the timely conduct of parliamentary elections as declared, minimizing the period of vacuum and transition.
- Advocate with political parties to integrate and prioritize issues related to civic space, freedom of expression, and the voices of marginalized communities into their upcoming election manifestos and political agendas.
- Emphasize the importance of upholding and protecting constitutional principles during this transitional period, particularly concerning the separation of powers and democratic norms.
- Establish a monitoring mechanism to track human rights violations, ensure accountability for past abuses, and promote the rule of law during the interim period and electoral process.
- Support initiatives that facilitate constructive dialogue between political stakeholders, civil society, and Gen Z representatives to foster reconciliation and build a consensus for future governance.
- Launch a public awareness campaign on the importance of democratic participation, constitutional rights, and peaceful civic engagement, especially targeting youth.