Kathmandu: Nepal’s fragile political order entered a new chapter on Friday as former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was named the country’s interim Prime Minister, a decision reached after an extraordinary consensus between President Ram Chandra Paudel, Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, and representatives of the Gen-Z protest movement that has gripped the nation for weeks.
Karki, who made history as Nepal’s first female Chief Justice in 2016, will now assume the mantle of leadership in a caretaker capacity, tasked with steering the nation through one of its most turbulent phases in recent years. She is expected to take the oath of office at 9 p.m. local time, marking a rare moment in which judicial credibility, military influence, and popular activism converged to shape Nepal’s political future.
The decision to elevate Karki comes against a backdrop of unprecedented street demonstrations led by young citizens frustrated by corruption, unemployment, and what they describe as the failures of Nepal’s political class. The movement, powered by social media and grassroots mobilization, forced the political establishment to reckon with the demand for accountability and reform.
For weeks, Kathmandu has seen rallies calling for systemic change, with slogans echoing the impatience of a generation that feels excluded from decision-making. By choosing a former judge rather than a career politician, the leadership appears to be signaling a break from entrenched political interests and an attempt to restore public trust in governance, at least temporarily.
Karki’s role, however, will be far from symbolic. Sources close to the matter suggest that her immediate responsibilities will include forming a small caretaker cabinet and recommending the dissolution of the federal parliament along with the seven provincial assemblies. This would effectively wipe the political slate clean and pave the way for fresh elections, though the timeline for such polls remains uncertain.
Her first cabinet meeting is expected to convene on Friday night itself, underscoring the urgency with which this interim arrangement has been constructed. The reliance on a judicial figure to lead such a critical transition underscore both the severity of the crisis and the exhaustion with Nepal’s political elite, whose frequent power struggles have long paralyzed governance.
The involvement of the military and the presidency in brokering this outcome raises important questions about the health of Nepal’s democratic institutions. Critics caution that while the Army’s role has been presented as stabilizing, its direct influence in shaping leadership transitions could set a dangerous precedent for civilian politics.
At the same time, the President’s endorsement of Karki reflects both the lack of alternatives and a bid to prevent further escalation of unrest. Yet, the decisive role of Gen-Z protesters in pushing this outcome cannot be underestimated their ability to mobilize, sustain pressure, and demand structural change has made them an undeniable force in the nation’s political landscape.
For Karki herself, the challenge is monumental. Having served in the judiciary, she is widely seen as incorruptible and principled, but she has never held executive office before. Balancing the expectations of restless youth, the ambitions of sidelined political parties, and the watchful eyes of the military will test her leadership skills in ways unprecedented for a caretaker head of government.
Moreover, she inherits a deeply divided polity, fragile economic indicators, and a populace fatigued by broken promises. Whether she can navigate these treacherous waters to lay the groundwork for credible elections will determine whether her appointment is remembered as a turning point toward stability or merely another pause in Nepal’s cycle of political turmoil.
As the country prepares for Karki’s swearing-in, all eyes are on how Nepal’s mainstream parties react to being bypassed in this power arrangement. Will they support the caretaker government for the sake of stability, or challenge its legitimacy and attempt to reclaim control?
International observers, too, are closely watching developments in Kathmandu, mindful that Nepal’s stability has implications for the wider Himalayan region, particularly in its delicate balancing act between India and China. For now, Sushila Karki stands at the helm of an interim experiment a fusion of judicial integrity, popular demand, and institutional compromise that will either steady Nepal’s shaky democracy or plunge it into another uncertain chapter.