Nepal Holds First Elections Since Gen Z Protests Toppled Government
The House of Representatives, which had been elected in November 2022 for a five-year term, was dissolved in September at the height of widespread protests largely driven by members of Generation Z.
During the unrest, demonstrators set fire to several major institutions, including the parliament building, the prime minister’s office, the Supreme Court and a number of private businesses.
The protests were fueled by public anger over corruption and deep social inequalities, and the violence resulted in the deaths of more than 70 people, according to reports.
The turmoil ultimately led to Oli stepping down, after which retired jurist Sushila Karki assumed leadership as interim head of government.
Karki’s interim administration organized the elections within six months of taking office, as required.
Roughly 19 million citizens are eligible to vote in the polls. Of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives, 165 lawmakers will be chosen through a first-past-the-post system, while the remaining 110 will be allocated through proportional representation.
The country’s upper chamber, known as the National Assembly, is selected indirectly by representatives elected to the lower house and provincial assemblies.
More than 900,000 voters participating in the election are casting ballots for the first time.
Reports suggest many of these younger voters are backing new and younger political figures in hopes of replacing long-standing leaders they view as ineffective.
Among the prominent candidates is former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, who is widely viewed as a leading contender to become the country’s next prime minister.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
