Nepal - July 2024

On 14 July, K. P. Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) was appointed Prime Minister after his predecessor, Pushpa Kamal Dahal of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), lost a confidence vote, leading to his government’s collapse. This is the fourth change in the ruling coalition since the 2022 general election. The new alliance, including Nepali Congress and UML, and two smaller parties – Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) – now holds a two-thirds majority in the 275-member House of Representatives. According to media reports, the coalition has agreed to amend the constitution and electoral system, shifting from a mixed-electoral system to a first-past-the-post system, aiming to reduce the influence of smaller parties to improve political stability. These changes could significantly alter Nepal’s political structure, affecting the representation of marginalized groups in parliament and raising sensitive issues like restoring the monarchy and a shift away from federalism. The timing and specific provisions of the constitutional amendments remain unclear.

Sources: The Wire, My Republica, Nikkei Asia, The New York Times, The Diplomat