Former CJ Sushila Karki becomes Nepal’s first woman Prime Minister
Former CJ Sushila Karki becomes Nepal’s first woman Prime Minister
Digital Desk: Sushila Karki, the former chief justice, was sworn in as Nepal's interim prime minister. After days of speculation and behind-the-scenes negotiations, the ceremony, which took place at Nepal's Rashtrapati Bhawan, installed the nation's first female head of state.
It was decided to hold general elections on March 5, 2026, after the oath-taking ceremony.
In addition to PM Karki and President Ramchandra Paudel, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Rawat and Vice President Ram Sahay Yadav attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Following a consensus reached by President Ram Chandra Paudel, General Ashok Raj Sigdel of the Nepal Army, and members of the Generation Z protest movement—whose agitation had prompted former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign earlier in the week—the decision was formally announced by the Office of the President.
The events came after days of widespread demonstrations led by young Nepalese who were fed up with unemployment and corruption. At least 51 people were killed in those protests, which prompted a police crackdown this week and compelled Mr. Oli to leave.
Ms. Karki, Nepal's first female chief justice from 2016 to 2017, experienced a challenging judicial career marked by a politically motivated government motion to remove her from office less than a year after her appointment.
Although public pressure thwarted this attempt, the incident disillusioned her, leading to her eventual resignation. Ms. Karki is recognized by younger Nepalese as an unyielding figure who demonstrated a strong stance against corruption during her tenure on the bench.
