Nepali Parliament Reinstated

Prime Minister Khadga P. Sharma Oli giving a speech at the International Labor Conference. June, 2019 (Flickr).

The Supreme Court of Nepal unanimously decided on February 23 to reinstate its Parliament, declaring that Nepali Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli’s decision to dissolve the Parliament in December was unconstitutional. This ruling was widely welcomed by Nepali citizens, as the dissolution of Parliament was viewed by many as Oli’s last resort to illegitimately secure another term as prime minister.

Oli’s party had been splintering due to the power struggle between Oli and the co-chair of his party, former Maoist rebellion leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Oli and Dahal joined forces before the 2017 election and Oli’s party merged with the former Maoist rebels to create the Nepal Communist Party. The two leaders agreed to split the five-year prime minister term; however, Oli had refused to concede his position, resulting in political turmoil within the party.

Oli has also faced scrutiny for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, as Nepal’s tourism-dependent economy has been hit particularly hard. 

Facing a faltering economy, political rifts, and growing public distrust, on December 20, Oli requested that the president of Nepal dissolve the Parliament and hold elections 18 months ahead of schedule. 

Oli defended his decision by claiming that members of his own party, notably those belonging to Dahal’s faction, have been causing political gridlock. “The dissolution of parliament and fresh elections were not my choice. It was aimed at taking the country out of a state of inaction,” Oli said during a televised address to the public.

However, tens of thousands of Nepali citizens gathered in Kathmandu and other major cities to protest his decision. 

Among those organizing the protests were three former Nepali prime ministers and many members from Dahal’s faction of the Nepal Communist Party. Protestors saw the Supreme Court decision as a victory, but Nepali officials speculate that this turmoil, paired with the instability of the Nepal Communist Party, could lead to political chaos in Nepal. 

Nepali press groups have voiced their concerns regarding the political uncertainty that might ensue; however, most groups are in favor of the Court’s ruling: an editorial from the Kathmandu Post reads, “By passing a judgment in favor of the constitution, [the Supreme Court has] stood by the people, and re-established the notion of an independent judiciary.”

For Oli, the Supreme Court decision has effectively quashed any hopes of reelection. Members of the newly convened Parliament are keen on passing a no-confidence motion, which would publicly declare whether or not the Parliament deems Oli fit to hold his position. Due to the divide in the Nepal Communist Party, it is unlikely that Oli will be able to stop the motion, as his faction only controls around 84 seats in the 275-member house.