Context
Nepal transitioned from political crisis to renewed democratic momentum in early 2026. Following violent crackdown on Gen Z protests in September 2025, characterised by the disproportionate use of lethal force that resulted in dozens of deaths and the subsequent dissolution of parliament, and an interim government under a former Chief Justice, the country held snap House of Representatives elections on 5 March 2026. These elections proceeded peacefully with around 60% voter turnout, signaling a tectonic shift in the political landscape as the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) secured a nearly two-thirds majority, securing 182 out of 275 seats.
Former Kathmandu mayor, the 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, became Prime Minister on 27 March 2026, forming Nepal’s first majority government in decades and marking a significant generational shift driven by youth and anti-establishment sentiment. The interim period also saw the withdrawal of a controversial Social Media Bill in February 2026, addressing a key protest demand. Nepal’s impending graduation from ‘least developed country’ (LDC) status in November 2026 continues to pose funding challenges for CSOs amid ongoing economic pressures. Overall, this period reflects a state of guarded recovery, where restored electoral legitimacy exists alongside persistent systemic threats to associative and expressive freedoms.
