Former chief justice Sushila Karki was sworn in on Tuesday as Nepal's interim prime minister, becoming the South Asian nation's first female leader. Dressed in a red sari, she smiled and offered traditional greetings but did not speak following the ceremony.
"Congratulations! We wish you success, we wish the country success," President Ram Chandra Paudel said.
Kiran Pokharel, an aide to the president, stated that "a council of ministers will be formed later, followed by the implementation of related processes."
"This is a moment of victory… finally, the power vacuum has been filled," Amrita Ban, a Gen Z protester, said.
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Former chief justice Sushila Karki, who was proposed by protesters as the interim prime minister. Photo: X/@airnewsalerts |
Large-scale protests erupted in Nepal on 8/9, as tens of thousands of people, mostly from Generation Z, took to the streets of Kathmandu to oppose the government's blocking of social media platforms. The demonstrations escalated into protests against corruption. Protesters clashed with security forces, with police using live ammunition, making it one of the deadliest days in Nepal's history, with 20 deaths and hundreds injured.
K.P. Sharma Oli and several cabinet officials resigned on 9/9, leading to a state of unrest. Arson and violence intensified, prompting military intervention to restore order. Protesters subsequently held an online meeting and nominated Karki for the interim prime minister position.
Nepalese police reported on Tuesday that the riots resulted in 51 deaths, including 21 protesters, 9 prisoners, three police officers, and 18 others. Over 1,300 people were injured.
The situation has since stabilized, with shops reopening, streets becoming crowded, and police switching from carrying guns to batons. The military presence has also decreased.
Despite being 73 years old, Karki enjoys considerable support from young protesters due to her neutral stance, her independence from political parties, and her firm anti-corruption stance. She is seen as a figure who can steer Nepal out of the crisis, amid public discontent with the ruling class, perceived as corrupt and unethical.
Her husband is Durga Prasad Subedi, a youth leader in the Nepali Congress party, yet Karki has maintained political neutrality.
Karki rose through the ranks from a lawyer and regional judge to become chief justice of the Supreme Court eight years ago, the only woman in Nepal to hold this position.
Nhu Tam (According to Reuters, AFP)