Political uncertainty plagues Nepal

Nepal SC has upheld its recent ruling that PM KP Sharma Oli’s decision to dissolve the lower house of parliament in Dec was unconstitutional

The Nepal Supreme Court has upheld the country’s constitution and has set a positive precedent with its recent ruling that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s decision to dissolve the lower house of parliament in December was unconstitutional. It ordered the reconvening of Parliament in 13 days. Oli has been stacking key institutions and constitutional bodies with loyalists and there was real fear in Nepal in the run-up to last week’s ruling that the court would endorse Oli’s controversial decision rather than uphold constitutional principles. With the verdict, the court has underscored its independence. Its credibility in the eyes of the Nepali public has grown enormously.

While the apex court ruling ends the impasse over Oli’s controversial decision to dissolve parliament, the political uncertainty in Nepal is nowhere near an end. Calls for Oli’s resignation are mounting but he is unlikely to step down. When parliament meets next week, he will face a confidence vote. He does not have the support in parliament to survive the vote. Although the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) enjoys a two-thirds majority in the House, the party is split between the Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal factions. If the party cannot be united, neither faction has the requisite number of seats to form the next government on its own. They will need the support of the opposition Nepali Congress (NC) to be able to do so. Both factions of the NCP are wooing the NC. However, the NC too is divided over which NCP faction to support. There are some NC leaders who prefer not to support either faction. They are keen to seek a fresh mandate. Adding to the prevailing uncertainty is the fact that the NCP split has not been formalised yet.

Oli and Dahal’s differences, which underlie Nepal’s political crisis, are not over principles, policies or programmes. Their fight has always been over power. And while they have fought, governance has been in a state of paralysis. Nepal’s democracy was never short of public support for it. It was people’s power that fuelled democratic struggles. But Nepal’s politicians have routinely failed democracy by entering into unprincipled coalitions. When parliament reconvenes next week, they will have the opportunity to form a new government. They must reflect on what is good for the people of Nepal. They will need to set aside their personal ambitions to build a government based on principles. The Nepali people are weary of political turmoil. Royalists and authoritarian forces are waiting in the wings. Can Nepal’s politicians rise to the occasion?