Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has been sworn in as the first woman to lead Nepal, following a week of violent anti-graft protests that forced the resignation of Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli.
President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office at Sheetal Niwas, the presidential residence, on Friday. Karki, 73, was the preferred choice of protesters who cited her reputation for honesty, integrity, and her judicial stance against corruption. She had earlier served as Nepal’s chief justice from 2016 to 2017.
The appointment came after days of negotiations between the president, army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, and leaders of the “Gen Z Movement,” whose protests plunged the country into its worst crisis in decades. At least 51 people were killed and more than 1,300 injured in the unrest.
Election Roadmap and Conspiracies
Soon after taking office, Karki proposed dissolving Nepal’s 275-seat parliament, paving the way for fresh elections. President Paudel swiftly endorsed the proposal, with general elections scheduled for March 5, 2026.
While this aligns with a key demand of the youth-led protests, uncertainty already looms. Political observers point to deep divisions within Nepal’s political establishment and the army’s role in managing the transition, fueling speculation about whether elections will be held on time. Many protesters remain wary, fearing that entrenched political forces could use the interim government to regroup.
Return to Fragile Normalcy
In Kathmandu, life began inching back to normal on Friday. Shops reopened, cars returned to the roads, and police patrolled with batons instead of rifles. Families began reclaiming the bodies of those killed in clashes.
Among the dead was 23-year-old protester Karuna Budhathoki’s nephew, who “decided to go ahead” with the demonstrations even after his friends pulled back. Another, 24-year-old Ashab Alam Thakurai, had been married just a month before losing his life.
The human cost of the protests remains fresh, and Karki’s interim administration faces the dual challenge of investigating state violence and restoring public trust while preparing for elections.
A Historic but Uncertain Chapter
Nepal, a country of 30 million people still grappling with political and economic instability since the abolition of its monarchy in 2008, now enters a new chapter. Karki’s rise marks a historic breakthrough for women’s leadership, but also ushers in a period of uncertainty as the nation braces for elections clouded by conspiracies, mistrust, and the raw wounds of mass unrest.
