Sushila Karki likely to become Nepal interim prime minister amid unrest
Former chief justice set to lead after resignation of K.P. Sharma Oli
KATHMANDU – Nepal’s former chief justice, Sushila Karki, is expected to be appointed as interim prime minister on Friday, according to a source familiar with the talks. The move comes after days of intense anti-graft protests forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to step down.
The protests, driven largely by young demonstrators known as “Gen Z,” erupted after a controversial social media ban. The ban, now reversed, sparked Nepal’s worst unrest in years. At least 34 people were killed and more than 1,300 injured as police clashed with crowds. Violence only eased after Oli announced his resignation.
“Sushila Karki will be appointed interim prime minister,” a constitutional expert involved in discussions with President Ramchandra Paudel and army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel told Reuters. The expert requested anonymity because the negotiations remain sensitive.
According to the source, Karki’s selection reflects pressure from Gen Z protesters. “They want her. This will happen today,” the source added. A meeting at the president’s residence, scheduled for 9 a.m., is expected to confirm her appointment.
Neither the president’s office nor the army spokesperson responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Nepal, wedged between India and China, has faced years of political and economic turmoil since abolishing its monarchy in 2008. Unemployment and lack of opportunity have forced millions to work abroad, sending remittances back home to support families.
By Friday, signs of calm began returning to Kathmandu. Shops reopened, cars returned to the streets, and police carried batons instead of rifles. Soldiers were still present, but in smaller numbers, and some roads remained blocked.
Karki, if confirmed, would step into office at a critical moment. Her leadership will be closely watched by both Nepal’s youth movement and the international community as the country struggles to restore order and chart a path forward.
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