Nepal’s Historic Moment: Sushila Karki Becomes First Woman Prime Minister
In a groundbreaking event for Nepal, 73-year-old Sushila Karki took oath as the country’s interim Prime Minister on Friday evening. This makes her the first woman to hold this top job in the Himalayan nation’s history. Karki, who also served as Nepal’s first female Chief Justice, stepped up after days of intense political drama sparked by youth-led protests.
President Ram Chandra Poudel administered the oath to Karki following wide-ranging talks with Gen-Z protest leaders, constitutional experts, and even the army chief. The move comes right after the government of KP Sharma Oli collapsed amid violent Gen-Z protests on Monday. These street demonstrations, driven by young activists fed up with Oli’s leadership, demanded real change in Nepal’s politics.
Talks dragged on about whether to dissolve the House of Representatives—the lower house of parliament—before or after appointing the new Prime Minister. In the end, the Gen-Z protesters threw their weight behind Karki, turning down other non-political names that were suggested. Her appointment has sparked widespread praise across Nepal for bringing a fresh, trusted face to lead during this crisis.
But here’s the twist: Nepal’s Constitution doesn’t easily allow someone like Karki to become Prime Minister. Article 76 says only members of the House of Representatives can take the role, and even upper house members are out. Plus, Article 132(2) bars former Chief Justices from government posts unless the Constitution says otherwise. So, how did this happen? Experts point to the "principle of necessity," a flexible rule Nepal has used since the 1950s revolution to handle emergencies.
Constitutional lawyer Bipin Adhikari explains it simply: "We’ve bent the rules before in tough times, but it’s not ideal. Sticking to the Constitution keeps things stable—ignoring it could lead to bigger problems down the line." Still, he trusts Karki’s strong record as a judge who always upheld the law. He hopes her role stays temporary, leading to quick elections and a handover to an elected government.
Karki’s rise has won big cheers from key figures. Former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha, who held the post before her in 2016, says, "I know her integrity from our judicial days. She’s a reliable leader, even if politics is new territory." Ex-Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai called it a "positive step" by the Gen-Z youth. In a statement, he added, "These young leaders are shaping a new Nepal by picking a clean, capable figure like Karki. We fully support her and wish her success."
Adhikari echoes the praise for her honesty and skills but warns she must navigate the chaos well. He urges her interim government to hold elections on time, punish those behind the deaths of 51 people—including some police—during the Gen-Z protests, and tackle vandalism that wrecked public and private property. Local reports say the unrest hit businesses hard too. "Don’t forget the protesters’ calls to fight corruption and improve governance," Adhikari stresses.
Born in 1952 in Biratnagar, eastern Nepal, Karki grew up in a middle-class family where education for girls wasn’t common. Her parents pushed her forward, and she grabbed the chance. Coming from a political background—her dad joined the Nepali Congress inspired by the country’s first elected PM, B P Koirala—Karki studied law, earning an LLB from Tribhuvan University in 1972 and a Master’s in political science from India’s Banaras Hindu University in 1975. She started practicing law in Biratnagar in 1979 and became a senior advocate by 2007.
Her judicial career soared in 2009 as an ad-hoc Supreme Court judge, turning permanent in 2010. By April 2016, she was Chief Justice. Karki made waves with bold rulings, like disqualifying powerful anti-corruption chief Lok Man Singh Karki in 2017 for abusing power against politicians and officials. In 2012, as a justice, she convicted a sitting minister, Jaya Prakash Gupta, on corruption charges.
Not everything was smooth. Her 2017 decision against a coalition government’s police chief pick led to an impeachment push, suspending her briefly. The Supreme Court stepped in, quashing it and reinstating her. Karki’s husband, Durga Subedi, adds a dramatic family layer—he was a Nepali Congress leader tied to the 1973 hijacking of a Royal Nepal Airlines plane to fund the party’s fight against the autocratic regime.
As Nepal eyes stability after the Gen-Z protests, Karki’s leadership could mark a turning point. With her no-nonsense judicial background, many hope she’ll guide the nation toward fair elections and real reforms. Stay tuned as this story unfolds in Nepal’s fast-changing political scene.
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