Nepal President Appoints KP Sharma Oli As New Prime Minister, Oath Ceremony Scheduled For Monday

Nepal's President has appointed KP Sharma Oli as PM, marking his fourth term in the role. Oli's appointment, supported by 166 lawmakers, follows Pushpa Kamal Dahal's failure to secure a majority in a confidence motion.

File photo of CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli

Source : Getty_Images

Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel on Friday appointed CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli as the country's Prime Minister. This marks Oli's fourth tenure as the nation's chief executive. Oli, who first held the prime ministerial position from October 2015 to August 2016, subsequently led the government from February 2018 to May 2021, and again from May 2021 to July 2021.

His latest appointment comes under Article 76 (2) of the Nepalese Constitution, following his claim supported by 166 lawmakers, including 88 from the Nepali Congress and 78 from the CPN-UML.

Nepal President Paudel's decision follows his call on Friday for a House member to claim leadership of a coalition government by 5 pm on Sunday. With 138 as the minimum number required to form a government in the 275-member House of Representatives, Oli staked his claim within hours of the President's invitation, supported by signatures from 165 lawmakers, the Kathmandu Post reported.

The newly appointed Prime Minister and his Cabinet ministers are scheduled to take their oaths at 11 am on Monday.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal's Ouster As Nepal Prime Minister

This development comes in the wake of outgoing Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's failure to secure a majority in the House of Representatives during a confidence motion on Friday. Following Dahal's ouster, Paudel invoked Article 76 (2) of the constitution, which mandates the President to appoint a House member who can secure a majority with the support of two or more parties as Prime Minister.

The alliance between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, the nation's two largest political parties, is noteworthy as they have joined forces to form the government for the first time in nearly a decade. Leaders from both parties have expressed that their coalition aims to ensure political stability, review and amend the constitution, and revitalise Nepal's sluggish economy.

As per the constitutional mandate, Oli now needs to secure a vote of confidence from Parliament within 30 days of his appointment. The coalition agreement stipulates that the two parties will rotate leadership for the remaining term of Parliament, as per the Kathmandu Post.