Politics of Nepal
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The politics of Nepal function within a framework of a republic with a multi-party system. Currently, the position of President of Nepal (head of state) is occupied by Bidhya Devi Bhandari. The position of Prime Minister (head of government) is held by Khadga Prasad Oli. Executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and his cabinet, while legislative power is vested in the Parliament.
Until May 28, 2008, Nepal was a constitutional monarchy. On that date, the constitution was altered by the Nepalese Constituent Assembly to make the country a republic.[1]
The Economist Intelligence Unit has rated Nepal as "hybrid regime" in 2016.[2]
Political conditions
2001: Royal massacre
On June 1, 2001, members of royal family, King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya, Crown Prince Dipendra, Prince Nirajan and many other were killed in the massacre. However, after the massacre, Crown Prince survived for a short while in coma.
Although he never regained consciousness before dying, Crown Prince Dipendra was nonetheless the monarch under the law of Nepalese royal succession. After his death two days later, the late King's surviving brother Gyanendra was proclaimed king.
2002–2007: Suspension of parliament and Loktantra Andolan
On 1 February 2002 King Gyanendra suspended the Parliament, appointed a government led by himself, and enforced martial law. The King argued that civil politicians were unfit to handle the Maoist insurgency. Telephone lines were cut and several high-profile political leaders were detained. Other opposition leaders fled to India and regrouped there. A broad coalition called the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) was formed in opposition to the royal takeover, encompassing the seven parliamentary parties who held about 90% of the seats in the old, dissolved parliament.
The UN-OHCHR, in response to events in Nepal, set up a monitoring program in 2005 to assess and observe the human rights situation there[3]
On 22 November 2005, the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) of parliamentary parties and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) agreed on a historic and unprecedented 12-point memorandum of understanding (MOU) for peace and democracy. Nepalese from various walks of life and the international community regarded the MOU as an appropriate political response to the crisis that was developing in Nepal. Against the backdrop of the historical sufferings of the Nepalese people and the enormous human cost of the last ten years of violent conflict, the MOU, which proposes a peaceful transition through an elected constituent assembly, created an acceptable formula for a united movement for democracy. As per the 12-point MOU, the SPA called for a protest movement, and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) supported it. This led to a countrywide uprising called the Loktantra Andolan that started in April 2006. All political forces including civil society and professional organizations actively galvanized the people. This resulted in massive and spontaneous demonstrations and rallies held across Nepal against King Gyanendra's autocratic rule.
The people's participation was so broad, momentous and pervasive that the king feared being overthrown.[citation needed] On 21 April 2006, King Gyanendra declared that "power would be returned to the people". This had little effect on the people, who continued to occupy the streets of Kathmandu and other towns, openly defying the daytime curfew. Finally King Gyanendra announced the reinstatement the House of Representatives, thereby conceding one of the major demands of the SPA, at midnight on 24 April 2006. Following this action the coalition of political forces decided to call off the protests.
Twenty-one people died and thousands were injured during the 19 days of protests.[citation needed]
On 19 May 2006, the parliament assumed total legislative power and gave executive power to the Government of Nepal (previously known as His Majesty's Government). Names of many institutions (including the army) were stripped of the "royal" adjective and the Raj Parishad (a council of the King's advisers) was abolished, with his duties assigned to the Parliament itself. The activities of the King became subject to parliamentary scrutiny and the King's properties were subjected to taxation. Moreover, Nepal was declared a secular state abrogating the previous status of a Hindu Kingdom. However, most of the changes have, as yet, not been implemented. On 19 July 2006, the prime minister, G. P. Koirala, sent a letter to the United Nations announcing the intention of the Nepalese government to hold elections to a constituent assembly by April 2007.
December 2007 to May 2008: Abolition of the monarchy
On 23 December 2007, an agreement was made for the monarchy to be abolished and the country to become a federal republic with the Prime Minister becoming head of state.[4] Defying political experts, who had predicted it to be trounced in the April 2008 elections, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) became the largest party amidst a general atmosphere of fear and intimidation from all sides.[5] A federal republic was established in May 2008, with only four members of the 601-seat Constituent Assembly voting against the change,[6] which ended 240 years of royal rule in Nepal. The government announced a public holiday for three days, (May 28 – May 30), to celebrate the country becoming a federal republic.
Since 2008
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Major parties such as the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN UML) and the Nepali Congress agreed to write a constitution to replace the interim one within 2 years. However, uncooperative and "selfish" behavior of the political parties has been cited[by whom?] as the major cause behind the de-railing of the peace process.
The Maoists, as the largest party of the country, took power right after the elections and named Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) as the Prime Minister of the country. CPN UML also joined this government, but the Nepali Congress took the part of the main opposition party. People soon saw that the country's situation deteriorated and political turmoils were in store.[citation needed] Prachanda soon fell into a dispute with the then army chief Rookmangud Katwal and decided to sack him. But the President Ram Baran Yadav, as the supreme head of military power in the country, revoked this decision and gave the army chief additional time in office. An angry Prachanda and his party quit the government, majorly citing this reason and decided to operate as the main opposition to the government headed by CPN UML and its co-partner Nepali Congress afterwards. Madhav Kumar Nepal was named the Prime Minister.
The Maoists have been to this date[when?] demanding civilian supremacy over the army.
The Maoists have been forcing closures – commonly known as bandhs – in the country, and have also declared autonomous states for almost all the ethnic groups in Nepal – seen[by whom?] as a part of revenge against the action that foiled their decision to sack the army chief.
Political leaders continue to discuss plans to end this turmoil, but none of the talks have been successful. Rising inflation, economic downturn, poverty, insecurity and uncertainty are the major problems. Many analysts[which?] opine that freedom has brought chaos to the country. Many[who?] doubt that the political parties will succeed in writing a constitution.
On May 2012 constitution assembly was dissolved and another election to select the constitution assembly members was declared by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.
Madhes Movement (2007 - 2015/16)
Madhes Movement[7] (Nepali: मधेस अान्दोलन) is a political movement launched by various political parties, especially those based in Madhes, for equal rights, dignity and identity of Madhesis and Tharus, Muslisms and Janjati groups in Nepal. In nearly a decade, Nepal witnessed three Madhes Movements[8][9] - the first Madhes Movement erupted in 2007,[10] the second Madhes Movement in 2008[11] and the third Madhes Movement in 2015. About the origin of the first Madhes Movement, Journalist Amarendra Yadav writes in The RIsing Nepal[12]"When the then seven-party alliance of the mainstream political parties and the CPN-Maoist jointly announced the Interim Constitution in 2007, it totally ignored the concept of federalism, the most desired political agenda of Madhesis and other marginalised communities. A day after the promulgation of the interim statute, a group of Madhesi activists under the Upendra Yadav-led Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal (then a socio-intellectual NGO) burnt copies of the interim constitution at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu." This triggered the Madhes movement I.
The second Madhes Movement took place in 2008, jointly launched by Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal, Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party and Sadbhawana Party led by Rajendra Mahato with three key agenda: federalism, proportional representation and population-based election constituency, which were later ensured in the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2008.
However, The Constitution of Nepal 2015 backtracked from those issues, that were already ensured by the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2008. Supreme Court of Nepal Advocate Dipendra Jha writes in The Kathmandu Post: "many other aspects of the new constitution are more regressive than the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007. Out of all its deficiencies, the most notable one concerns the issue proportional representation or inclusion in all organs of the state."[13] This triggered the third Madhes Movement by Madhesis[14][15][16] in Nepal. Although the first amendment to the constitution was done, the resistance over the document by Madhesi and Tharus in Nepal still continues[17][18]
Legislative branch
Pre-2006
From 1991 to 2002 the Parliament (Sansad) had two chambers. The House of Representatives (Pratinidhi Sabha) had 205 members elected for five-year term in single-seat constituencies. The National Council (Rashtriya Sabha) had 60 members, 35 members elected by the Pratinidhi Sabha, 15 representatives of Regional Development Areas and 10 members appointed by the king. Parliament was subsequently dissolved by the king in 2002 on the pretext that it was incapable of handling the Maoists rebels.
From Loktantra Andolan to the Constituent Assembly
After the victory of Loktantra Andolan in the spring of 2006, a unicameral interim legislature replaced the previous parliament. The new body consists both of members of the old parliament as well as nominated members. As of December 2007, the legislature had the following composition.[19]
The first elections after becoming a Republic: the Constituent Assembly
In May 2008 the elections for the Constituent Assembly saw the Communist Party of Nepal as the largest party in the Constituent Assembly, which will have a term of two years.
Judicial branch
The judiciary is composed of the Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat), appellate courts, and various Trial court/district courts. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the other judges were appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Council.
Nepal's judiciary is legally separate from the executive and legislative branches and has increasingly shown the will to be independent of political influence. The judiciary has the right of judicial review under the constitution.
International organization participation of nepal
AsDB, CCC, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, Group of 77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, International Development Association, IFAD, International Finance Corporation, IFRCS, International Labour Organization, International Monetary Fund, International Maritime Organization, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, International Organization for Standardization (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, Non-Aligned Movement, OPCW, SAARC, United Nations, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNTAET, UPU, World Federation of Trade Unions, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO CPC Nepal (applicant)
See also
- Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala
- Arjun Narasingha K.C.
- Girija Prasad Koirala
- Sher Bahadur Deuba
- Bal Chandra Poudel
Further reading
Jonathan Devendra. 2013. Massacre at the Palace: The Doomed Royal Dynasty of Nepal. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 0-7868-6878-3.
References
- ^ Nepal's monarchy abolished, republic declared Archived 31 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine AFP, 2008-05-28
- ^ solutions, EIU digital. "Democracy Index 2016 - The Economist Intelligence Unit". www.eiu.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- ^ Nepal Summary Archived 17 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine, OHCHR.
- ^ Gurubacharya, Binaj (24 December 2007). "Nepal to Abolish Monarchy". Time. Archived from the original on 25 December 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2007.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "The Maoists triumph". The Economist. 17 April 2008.
- ^ Nepal votes to abolish monarchy BBC News, 2008-05-28
- ^ "Madhes movement - The Himalayan Times". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Madhesh Movement: Then n now (Part I of III) – OnlineKhabar". english.onlinekhabar.com. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Madhesh Movement: Then n now (Part II of III) – OnlineKhabar". english.onlinekhabar.com. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Three years later - Nepali Times". nepalitimes.com. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Three years later - Nepali Times". nepalitimes.com. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "The Rising Nepal: Ten Years On, Madhes Still In Unrest". therisingnepal.org.np. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Talk to the Tarai". Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Who are the Madhesis, why are they angry?". The Indian Express. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ Sharma, Bhadra; Najar, Nida (28 September 2015). "Nepal Rations Fuel as Political Crisis With India Worsens". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "The Secret to Resolving Madhes Andolan III Demands - Madhesi Youth". Madhesi Youth. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ Yadav, Anumeha. "Interview: 'For Madhesis, the first amendments to Nepal's new Constitution are a disappointment'". Scroll.in. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "THRD Alliance Resistance Continues as Nepal Observes the 2nd Anniversary of Constitution Promulgation - THRD Alliance". thrda.org. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Interim parliament endorses Interim Constitution-2063". NepalNews.com. 15 January 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2007.
External links
- The Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2063 (2007)
- The Constitution of The Kingdom of Nepal, 2047 (1990) (terminated by the Interim Constitution)