Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, commonly known as KP Oli, has once again taken the reins as the Prime Minister of Nepal. Following the collapse of the coalition led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, KP Oli has been appointed by President Poudel and will be sworn in on Monday.
This is not the first time KP Oli has held this position. He was first elected as Prime Minister in 2015, then reelected in 2018, and briefly reappointed in 2021 amidst Nepal’s often turbulent political landscape.
His predecessor, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, lost a vote of confidence on Friday, leading to his resignation just 18 months after taking office. Oli’s party withdrawing its support was a significant factor in Dahal’s downfall.
In a surprising turn of events, Oli has now aligned with Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress, forging a new partnership that promises a different political landscape in Nepal.
While Oli is set to serve as Prime Minister for now, he has indicated his willingness to hand over the position to Deuba, a former five-time Prime Minister, later in the parliamentary term.
Nepal transitioned into a federal republic in 2008 after a prolonged civil war and a peace agreement that brought former Maoists into the government and led to the abolition of the monarchy.
The political landscape in Nepal has been marked by a revolving door of aging Prime Ministers and a culture of political horse-trading, which has left the public feeling disconnected from the government’s ability to address the country’s urgent issues.
Looking ahead, Nepal is gearing up for its next general elections in 2027, which will be crucial in shaping the country’s future trajectory.
In the midst of all this, Nepal’s economy has been struggling, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted the tourism industry and remittances from Nepalis working abroad.
