Kathmandu — President Ram Chandra Paudel will appoint former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as Nepal’s interim prime minister on Friday morning. Officials at the presidential office said her swearing-in is also scheduled for the same day.
On Thursday, the president held extensive consultations with senior leaders, constitutional experts, and the Chief of Army Staff. Outgoing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Maoist Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and Unified Socialist Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal were among those he met.
While constitutional experts advised going through parliament, the president argued that current political and security conditions made that impossible. He concluded that, as guardian of the constitution, he could proceed under Article 61(4), which defines the president’s duty as upholding and protecting the constitution.
Karki’s interim government will be tasked with two key responsibilities: holding the next elections and investigating the recent crackdown on protesters, including the deaths of young demonstrators and subsequent violence. She is also expected to have the authority to recommend dissolving parliament and to announce the election date.
Late Thursday night, Karki met only with the president and the army chief, declining to meet party leaders. Observers say her stance reflects a determination to remain independent and free from political influence.
With this step, Nepal once again turns to a caretaker administration. Whether Karki’s leadership can guide the country toward stability remains uncertain.
