The September revolution staged by the youth in Nepal this year not only toppled the government led by K. P. Oli, but it also forcefully raised debate on what kind of governance structure is best suited to the country. Political instability and uncertainty have prevailed over the last seven decades, resulting in the adoption and dissolution of constitutions. The first interim constitution was adopted in 1951 following the overthrow of the Rana regime. Second, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal under the multiparty system was promulgated in 1959. Third in the series was the Constitution of Nepal 1962, which put a ban on political parties and introduced the party-less Panchayat system. Fourth, the Constitution of Nepal 1990 reintroduced parliamentary democracy in the country. Fifth, the Interim Constitution of Nepal, with the abolition of the monarchy in 2007, and the latest one, the Constitution of Nepal with federal, republican, and inclusive characteristics in 2015. However, it has been found that none of these constitutions were effective in producing a stable government that lasted for its full term.
The two parliamentary elections held under the current constitution produced hung parliaments without a clear majority for a single party. This was the primary reason behind unstable governments, as political parties formed different coalitions by shifting their support from one party to another solely for the purpose of securing lucrative positions in the government. This phenomenon began primarily after the dismissal of the House of Representatives in 1994, with the formation of 32 governments over the last 30 years. Party leaders engaged in horse trading and doled out undue advantages to parliamentarians to retain power. This bred corruption, nepotism, and favoritism at the top level of government, with a trickle-down effect on the lower bodies. A series of scandals and corrupt practices were reported in the local media, with political leaders, including prime ministers and ministers, at the helm of these scandals. The Commission on Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) was unable to investigate cases related to political leaders properly, thereby raising dissatisfaction among the general public. The simmering dissent erupted in the form of open protests, triggered by the government's ban on social media during the first week of September this year. The loss of life reached a staggering number of 78, and the destruction of public and private properties worth several billion dollars.
Nepal was considered a Himalayan Shangri-La for a long time in the past due to hospitable people with peaceful natures and harmonious relations between people and natural resources, flora, and fauna. Modernization of society, along with the advent of information technologies and the assimilation of culture with Western society, has been eroding the values and traditional way of life of Nepalese society. Modern society demands more freedom, democratization, and rational decision-making based on facts and figures. The growing use of information and communication technology has enabled people, particularly teenagers, to gather information on various facets of life. Moreover, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is bringing revolutionary change to the daily lives and work cultures of people.
Let’s live in peace and embrace diversity
The revolution organized by Gen Z was a spontaneous response to the growing corruption, mismanagement, and nepotism prevalent in the country. Whatsoever, the Gen Z uprising and the subsequent political upheaval in Nepal sent a negative signal to potential investors and visiting tourists, considered crucially important for employment generation and foreign exchange earnings in the country. The moot question after the latest youth resurgence is how Nepal can reclaim its position as a peaceful and benevolent nation.
With the formation of the interim government, with Sushila Karki at its helm, the country is now at the crossroads of its political journey. The interim government is mandated to hold elections for the House of Representatives on March 5, 2026. While the primary demand of the agitating side was to investigate and bring corrupt politicians and officials to book and reverse the decision of the government imposing a ban on social media, later some factions of Gen Z also put forward the demand to upend the current election process and elect the Prime Minister through direct voting and remove the provincial structure of the government. Thus, there are contradictions in the understanding between the agitating groups and the government; meeting the former’s demands requires introducing an amendment to the constitution, while the latter focuses merely on holding the election and handing over the state of affairs to the elected representatives. Based on this kind of contradictory approach, there is fear among people about the general election—whether it will happen or not on the scheduled date. Some sections of the people also opine that the country will dive into a black hole if the current situation is not addressed in a tactful way.
Political parties have a prominent role in the protection and promotion of democratic culture and the system of governance in the country. The current interim government cannot simply ignore this fact. The government should, therefore, on its behalf, start a trilateral dialogue engaging political parties and Gen Z representatives. An appropriate strategy could be to meet both conflicting interests together: all parties agreeing to hold the general election in a free and fair manner and, at the same time, developing a common agenda of constitutional reform by the elected representatives within six months of the formation of the new House of Representatives. This could be considered the metric of success for the current interim government.
Nepalis, in general, are known as honest, peace-loving, and hospitable people. They are liked in international labor markets and hence employed by host countries in large numbers. The wounds inflicted by recent events are sending a negative message among the well-wishers and development partners of Nepal. This may take years, if not decades, to recover from this trauma. Bringing peace and stability would require developing mutual trust and cooperation between various ideologies in the country. A coherent approach would be required to attract foreign tourists, bring in foreign direct investment, and develop the agricultural and industrial sectors in the country. The devastated public infrastructure and buildings have to be reconstructed speedily. Political settlements should be sought in earnest to achieve resiliency for a just social and economic order. This will uphold the position of the country as the Next Enclave of Peace and Love.
The author served as Commerce Secretary of the Government of Nepal.
