Gen Z Protests: Nepal Appoints First Female Prime Minister, Dissolves Parliament
President Ramchandra Paudel of Nepal on Friday dissolved the country’s parliament amid the “ Gen Z” nationwide protests that sank the government of Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli.
President Paudel also swore in a former Chief Justice of the country, Shushila Karki Ji who becomes Nepal’s first female prime minister.
The president also announced that fresh elections will be held on March 5, 2026.
Nepal has been on its knees for over one week as the Gen Z protests swept through the country, forcing government ministers to flee. The protesters also torched the country’s apex parliament accusing the prime minister and his government of colluding with parliamentarians of running the country aground while they live in obscene opulence.
Reuters reports that a statement from President Paudel’s office stated that, the president “ dissolved the House of Representatives … and fixed March 5, 2026, Thursday for the elections.”
The appointment of Karki was an outcome of an intense negotiations that involved the president, security chiefs and civil society organisations.
The president was quoted to have congratulated the new Prime Minister, saying, “Hearty congratulations, you will succeed to save the country.”
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in a post on X congratulate the new prime minister and promised to work with her government to restore peace. “Heartfelt congratulations to the Honorable Sushila Karki Ji on assuming the office of Prime Minister of Nepal’s interim government. India is fully committed to the peace, progress, and prosperity of Nepal’s brothers and sisters,” Mr. Modi wrote.
Nepal a country of 30 million people has witnessed political crisis for nearly one decade. In 2008, the country abolished its hitherto monarchical government system. The country has been faced with what some of the Gen Z protesters called excruciating economic system that has left most of its young people unemployed, forcing many to seek for jobs in neighbouring countries like China, India, South Korea, Malaysia and the Middle East.
The Gen Z protesters have taken to social media to express support and happiness over the
