Nepal reached a historic political turning point again. A peaceful protest called by young people against the ban on social media, rising unemployment, and widespread corruption led to anarchy and a chaotic crowd entering the parliament building. Security forces were mobilized and at least 19 people were killed in a single incident. This incident, called the “Gen Z movement”, turned into a decisive intervention of the youth in the history of Nepal. After this movement, Nepal is standing at a crossroads. On one side, there is the path to stability and reform, and on the other, it will fall into further chaos.
After the fall of the Oli-led government, the country is in complete political uncertainty. After the dissolution of the House of Representatives, there has been a standstill in policy-making and decision-making processes. When the government tried to shut down social media to control criticism of the government, the movement became stronger and more organized. The security challenge has become more serious after angry mobs vandalized government structures across the country, including the Parliament Building, the Supreme Court, and some business establishments and leaders’ homes. Nepal is currently facing a difficult juncture of political instability, economic crisis, and social imbalance. The economy has been seriously affected. In such circumstances, the main challenge for Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki is restoring peace, national dialogue, and rebuilding trust.
In the first phase, the government’s priority should be to maintain peace in the country and restore public trust. Ironically, the interim government has not been able to achieve its goal even after two months of its formation. An inclusive interim council can be formed, including representatives of all parties, civil society, and communities, which will include diverse voices in government decisions. Freedom of expression should be respected by removing restrictions on social media, which will strengthen public trust in democracy. In addition, an immediate relief package, job creation programs for unemployed youth, and legal action against corruption will reduce public discontent.
Although the Constitution of Nepal-2015 has laid the foundation for democracy, there is dissatisfaction with the issues of federalism, inclusiveness, and distribution of powers. Therefore, it is necessary to form a Constitutional Review Commission and make amendments that match the expectations and realities of the new generation. This commission should propose provisions to control corruption, guarantee digital rights, and ensure political participation of youth. If necessary, partial rewriting or convening of a Constituent Assembly can be carried out, which will bring long-term balance to the political system.
The final and decisive step of the interim government is to ensure fair, transparent, and cost-controlled elections. The current trend of House of Representatives candidates spending crores of rupees on elections has given rise to the root cause of corruption. After winning the election, leaders are forced to choose unethical ways to return those expenses, which has weakened the governance system. Therefore, the upcoming election system should be improved to reduce expenses, provide for transparent expense reporting, and strictly enforce the expense limit for candidates. A new government can be formed by holding cheap, simple and fair elections in phases at the local, provincial and federal levels. In addition, the Independent Election Commission should be further strengthened to prevent political interference, and the presence of international observers will increase the credibility and transparency of the electoral process. Only in this way can democratic practice become cheap, clean and people-oriented.
Institutional reform is no longer an option but a necessity for political stability. Political interference in key state institutions has weakened the governance system, so it is essential to make the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) truly independent, accountable and effective. For this, a Prominent Civilian Council can be formed, which should include former chief justices, renowned academicians, civil society representatives, journalists and youth campaigners. This council can act as an autonomous body to publicly monitor the CIAA’s performance, investigation process and disciplinary policy.
In addition, the uninterrupted e-Governance system should be expanded and government work should be transformed into digital transparency. This will not only control corruption, but also ensure efficiency and accountability in service delivery. Providing online tracking in government offices, open data portals, and digital accounts of public expenditure will increase citizen oversight.
Along with that, investment in education and employment is the backbone of long-term stability. Quality skill-based education and promotion of entrepreneurship will provide opportunities and hope to the youth. When youth see a responsible role for the state in their future, movements transform into permanent change.
Thus, making the authority transparent under citizen monitoring, and making the governance system digital and accountable, will transform the Gen Z movement into a positive energy, moving the country forward on the path of long-term political stability and good governance.
The Gen Z movement has brought Nepal to the doorstep of a new era. If the interim government led by Sushila Karki prioritizes peace, transparency, and reform, this movement can usher in new hope and opportunities.
Nepal should now choose the direction of inclusive and transparent democracy without repeating the mistakes of the past. The enthusiasm of the youth, the determination of women’s leadership, and the rebuilding of trust between the people and the state will become the main foundation now. The renaissance that Nepal desires can begin along this path—through a combination of dialogue, reform, and stable democracy.
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