Nepal’s political landscape underwent a dramatic shift on Friday as the country’s parliament was officially dissolved, just hours after former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as interim Prime
Minister. The move follows days of deadly anti-government protests that led to the resignation of the previous Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and the burning of the parliament building, reported CNN.
“The parliament has been dissolved on the recommendation of the prime minister. The election date is March 5, 2026,” said Kiran Pokharel, press advisor to President Ram Chandra Paudel, in a statement to AFP.
Sushila Karki, 73, took the oath of office in a formal ceremony at the presidential residence, vowing to lead the country through a six-month transitional period leading up to the general election. “I, Sushila Karki, take an oath in the name of the country and the people to fulfil my duty as the prime minister,” she declared.
Her appointment marks a historic moment for Nepal, as Karki is the first former chief justice, and the first woman to have held that position, to assume the office of Prime Minister. She rose to national prominence in 2016 when she became Nepal’s first female Chief Justice, earning a reputation for her firm stance against corruption and her commitment to judicial independence.
Karki’s political elevation comes after two days of high-stakes negotiations led by Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel and President Paudel. The talks included representatives from the youth-led protest movement broadly referred to as “Gen Z,” which played a key role in the anti-corruption demonstrations that ultimately toppled the previous government.
A native of Morang district in eastern Nepal, Karki studied law at Banaras Hindu University in India before building a distinguished legal career. During her tenure as Chief Justice, she famously clashed with the executive branch, most notably in 2017 when her bench overturned the government’s appointment of a new police chief.
The ruling, seen as a stand for meritocracy over political favouritism, led to an impeachment motion by the ruling coalition. The motion was later withdrawn following public and judicial outcry, further cementing her image as a defender of institutional integrity.
