Nepal Appoints First Woman PM, Sushila Karki, to Head Interim Govt

Nepal's political landscape turned historic on Friday as former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as the country's first woman prime minister.

- MPOST BUREAU

The 73-year-old leader has been tasked with steering a six-month interim administration, following the dramatic resignation of former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli earlier this week amid mass protests led by young demonstrators.

The oath of office was administered by President Ramchandra Paudel at the President's Office in Kathmandu. The ceremony was attended by Vice President Ram Sahay Yadav and Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Rawat, who stood witness as the Himalayan nation entered a new political chapter.

"Within six months, the government must conduct elections to restore stability," President Paudel said, underlining the immediate responsibility of the caretaker administration.

Karki's appointment followed intense consultations among the presidency, military leadership, and youth protesters at the forefront of the movement that forced Oli from office. A late-night meeting between President Paudel, Nepal Army chief Prabhu Ram Sharma, and representatives of the "Gen Z" protest movement produced consensus on Karki's leadership.

Soon after taking the oath, Karki was expected to form a lean cabinet. Sources indicated that the new cabinet's first act may be to recommend the dissolution of Parliament, in line with an agreement reached among stakeholders during the transition talks.