(Image source from: REUTERS)
Kul Man Ghising, the engineer who addressed Nepal's electricity issues, is expected to head a temporary government in the Himalayan country after anti-corruption protests by the 'Gen Z' group led to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigning following three days of unrest. In a short announcement on Thursday afternoon, the 'Gen Z protest' organization mentioned that during a six-hour online meeting, they discussed at least two other candidates: Balendra 'Balen' Shah, the Mayor of Kathmandu, and former Chief Justice of the Nepal Supreme Court, Sushila Karki. The selection of Mr. Ghising, who protesters referred to as "a patriot and a favorite among many," came as a surprise. News reports from Kathmandu indicated that former Chief Justice Karki had started discussions with the Army, which is temporarily in charge, about forming a new government. Mr. Ghising's appointment has led to talk of divisions among the protesters, especially after it was reported that their top choice, Balen Shah, declined to accept the role of leading the interim government. Mr. Shah, a well-liked figure among young Nepalis due to his rapper persona, seemed to resonate with the 'Gen Z protests' by sharing social media posts that encouraged peace.
This led to former Chief Justice Karki being nominated. However, it seems some in the protest group have opposed her candidacy. They claimed that the Constitution prevents former judges from being Prime Minister and that at 73, she is "too old" to guide them. The format of the proposed temporary government remains unclear. According to Nepal's 2015 constitution, a new Prime Minister needs to come from the party that holds the majority. If there isn't one, the President selects a successor, or any member of Parliament can step in to face a confidence vote. If they do not succeed in this vote, the parliament may be dissolved and elections called. In the meantime, soldiers are patrolling the streets of Kathmandu to keep a fragile peace and enforce laws. Since Monday afternoon, at least 31 individuals have lost their lives. More than 1,300 people have been hurt during clashes, which included protesters entering Parliament and a historic site, Singha Darbar, that contains government offices. The protests began simply, with young men and women in Nepal coming together to oppose a ban on popular social media sites. The ousted Nepal government claimed that platforms like X and YouTube had broken the country's regulations. However, many of these platforms provide crucial monthly earnings for Nepalis facing high unemployment rates.
The demonstrations quickly got out of hand. The government at that time lifted the ban, but it was too late as the situation had already escalated. Many thousands of people filled the streets, asking for a government that is free from corruption and focused on economic growth. As clashes became more common, shocking videos surfaced online showing angry protesters attacking former officials and their families, and setting buildings ablaze. This led to KP Sharma Oli having to step down. His current whereabouts are unknown, but he was spotted leaving Kathmandu on a military plane. The Army took over control, with General Ashok Raj Sigdel stating that his troops would maintain order only until a new government takes over. India has urged for calm discussions to solve the crisis, and has sent a warning to its citizens in or visiting Nepal. Additionally, India has increased security along the border to prevent the unrest from spreading and to capture prisoners who have escaped from Nepali prisons.
