Nepal awaits a new political imagination after the Gen Z protests

Biggest question is whether the anger of the young can propel a lasting political change

- Rohini Mohan

After protests earlier in September toppled the Himalayan republic's government, interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki now faces a race against time to find capable candidates to contest an election that has been called for March 5, 2026.

At stake: The hopes of Gen Z youth in the South Asian nation where, in 2024, yearly average per capita income fell just shy of US$1,500 (S$1,930) and youth unemployment exceeded 20 per cent.

Engineering student Yujan Rajbhandari, 24, is among the young Nepalis watching closely as the country's political system tries to reshape itself in response to their demands for integrity, honesty and good governance from their politicians.

Those demands rose to a boiling point on Sept 8 in Kathmandu when more than 15,000 young people poured out in the streets to protest against corruption, widening wealth gaps and the lavish lifestyles of "nepo babies" the children of politicians and bureaucrats.

More than 70 people were killed by police fire or in arson attacks, and the protests set off a series of rapid and dramatic events that launched Nepal into a course correction.

Young protesters have dictated every move since then, beginning with their choice of prime minister, Mrs Karki, the former chief justice, on Discord.

With elections coming up in a few months, young voters have made it clear they want a political system that does not dilute its constitutional promises to be inclusive and uncorrupt, as they say it has done in the past.

Nepal is no stranger to change.