International IDEA Regional Director discusses constitution implementation with Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs
On 17 August 2018, International IDEA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Leena Rikkila Tamang and Antonio Spinelli, Head of Mission for Nepal met with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Pradeed Kumar Gyawali in Kathmandu. Discussion covered Nepal’s current political context, and touched upon the journey Nepal has travelled toward consolidation of its democratic system since the signing of the Peace Agreement in 2006. Nepal’s remarkable story is worth sharing at the global platforms too.
They also discussed International IDEA’s past support to Nepal's transition to democracy and constitution building, as well as plans for further support. The implementation of new constitution and ensuring that federalism is supportive of inclusive state building and deepening of democracy were also highlighted as areas of attention.
International IDEA has had an MoU with the Government of Nepal since 2009, enabling the Institute to support Nepal’s electoral and constitution building processes, carrying out research and publications relevant to Nepal’s process, and sharing comparative knowledge among Nepali political actors, academia, media, government and the civil society.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the seven-party alliance and the Maoist party was signed in 2006 paving the way for the Constituent Assembly and ending 10-year long Maoist insurgency. Nepal’s new constitution of 2015 envisages an inclusive, federal, multiparty democracy.
