PM Oli’s move to dissolve parliament is against the constitution and democracy, say leaders and experts.
KATHMANDU, Dec 20: In a dramatic turn of events, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today decided to recommend the president for the dissolution of parliament, which experts and leaders say is not envisioned by the constitution of Nepal 2015.
At a time when intra-party conflict was at its peak in the ruling Nepal Communist Party, an emergency cabinet meeting held today morning decided to recommend the President Bidhya Devi Bhandari to dissolve the lower house – House of Representatives.
Following the decision of PM Oli, former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said that the move is against the spirit of the constitution. “The constitution has envisioned political stability. Learning from the past, the constitution adopted the term of the HoR for five years. But against the constitution, PM decided to recommend the president to dissolve the lower house,” said Bhattarai.
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He also said that the decision to recommend dissolution of the lower house is the mockery of the constitution. “The government is formed by a two-thirds majority and the parliamentary system,” he said.
The decision of KP Oli comes after a series of meetings with Pushpa Kamal Dahal and other NCP leaders on Saturday.
When the Prime Minister called for an emergency meeting today, it was expected that the cabinet would discuss withdrawing the ordinance related to the Constitutional Council Act. However, the cabinet decided to recommend dissolution of parliament.
The Prime Minister is already in the Office of President taking the recommendation of the Cabinet.
Likewise, Nepali Congress leader Minendra Rijal said that the move is against the expectation of people. “People voted for the Nepal Communist Party for five years, and recommending for dissolution of parliament is totally against the constitution. “This is an insult to the people, and to the votes,” he said, adding that President Bidya Devi Bhandari should not pass the recommendation of the government.
“However, the president is unlikely to go against the recommendation, though it is against the constitution,” he said, adding that the move is against the democracy, constitution by the “autocratic” government.
Likewise, leaders from the ruling party have also objected to the move of the prime minister. “The recommendation of dissolution of the parliament is against the constitution and it should be immediately withdrawn,” former Prime Minister Madhav Nepal, told Republica.
After the move, Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa said that the constitution envisioned a five-year term of parliament. “The move is against the constitution and democracy,” he tweeted.
The Nepali Congress has already called for a meeting for today after to discuss the latest move of the Prime Minister.
