Nepal faces deepening political turmoil as Gen Z protestors demand younger leadership, proposing engineer Kulman Ghising for interim Prime Minister. Rising unrest, prison breaks, and calls for constitutional reforms add pressure on President Paudel to resolve the crisis swiftly.
Nepal continues to grapple with political uncertainty as discussions over the appointment of an interim Prime Minister remain inconclusive. The turbulence, sparked by a youth-led protest movement, has created a volatile atmosphere in the Himalayan nation, with calls for younger leadership intensifying amid rising unrest.
On Thursday, Gen Z protestors proposed the name of engineer Kulman Ghising, known for his success in resolving Nepal’s chronic electricity shortage, as their preferred candidate for interim Prime Minister. His candidacy emerged during a meeting held at the Army Headquarters in Bhadrakali between youth representatives and Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel, reports said.
This latest development follows a brief consensus around retired Chief Justice Sushila Karki, whose name was floated earlier but later rejected by sections of the protest movement. At 73, Karki was seen as too old by many demonstrators, who argued that Nepal’s new era of governance should be driven by younger leaders. Ghising, 54, won favor not only for his relatively younger age but also for his clean public image and technocratic track record.
Youth Demand Fresh Leadership
“We want a younger person as Prime Minister,” shouted a protester in Kathmandu, echoing the sentiments of thousands of young Nepalis. Demonstrations have rocked the capital since the beginning of the week, with the death toll climbing to 34, according to officials at the Department of Forensic Medicine at Tribhuvan University.
The youth-driven protests initially rallied around Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, also known as Balen Shah, an engineer-turned-rapper-turned-politician. Shah had publicly supported Karki’s nomination but has since stepped back, citing personal and constitutional challenges. Reports suggest that he is not interested in pursuing a national role at this stage.
President Appeals for Calm
Amid escalating unrest, President Ramchandra Paudel has been actively consulting with stakeholders to find a constitutional way forward. In a statement released on Thursday, Paudel assured citizens that efforts are underway to address the protesters’ demands without compromising democratic norms.
“I appeal to all parties to be confident that efforts are underway to address the protesters’ demands swiftly and to cooperate in maintaining peace and order in a disciplined manner,” his statement read.
The President’s appeal came as mounting public pressure demanded swift resolution to the crisis that erupted following the resignation of former Prime Minister K. P. S. Oli. Oli stepped down after violent demonstrations broke out against his government’s ban on social media, which protestors used to highlight allegations of corruption, nepotism, and financial mismanagement. Although the ban was later lifted, Oli’s resignation did little to quell the protests. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
Rising Challenges Amid Crisis
The unrest has led to widespread disruption in Nepal. Tribhuvan International Airport, briefly closed earlier this week due to violent protests, resumed operations on Wednesday evening. Large crowds gathered at the airport Thursday, with the immigration department announcing free visa renewals for foreign visitors whose permits expired after September 8.
Compounding the crisis, reports indicated that over 13,000 prisoners escaped from jails across 15 districts during the protests. Authorities admitted there is no unified record of how many have been recaptured. Among those still at large are individuals convicted of serious crimes including murder, rape, kidnapping, and human trafficking.
Gen Z Push for Constitutional Reforms
The Gen Z movement, which has been at the forefront of the protests, is demanding not only the appointment of a younger interim Prime Minister but also sweeping political reforms. The group has called for the dissolution of Parliament and amendments to the Constitution to reflect the will of the people.
While the protests remain largely youth-driven, they have tapped into broader discontent across Nepal over issues of governance, accountability, and systemic corruption. With the death toll rising and law and order deteriorating, the country’s political future hangs in the balance.
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As Nepal navigates this period of turbulence, the choice of an interim Prime Minister — whether Ghising, Karki, or another figure — will likely determine the immediate direction of the crisis. For now, uncertainty looms large, with protesters vowing to remain on the streets until their demands are met.
