Nepal’s former chief justice, Sushila Karki, has emerged as the leading choice to head an interim government after nationwide protests forced the veteran prime minister from office.
Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel met representatives of the “Gen Z” protest movement on Wednesday, the military confirmed, as it sought to restore calm following the worst unrest in two decades. The protests, triggered by a social media ban and corruption scandals, escalated into nationwide fury, leaving at least 19 people dead and parliament in flames.
Rakshya Bam, one of the youth representatives, told AFP that Karki’s name was at the forefront and that they were awaiting the president’s decision. Karki, 73, Nepal’s first female Supreme Court chief justice, has called for experts to unite and chart a path forward.
However, divisions remain within the protest movement, with thousands debating on Discord who should represent them. Journalist Pranaya Rana noted that differing voices and competing interests were inevitable in such a decentralised movement.
Meanwhile, soldiers patrolled Kathmandu for a second day on Thursday, manning checkpoints as the capital remained tense but quiet.