The Hindu : International : Provision to abolish monarchy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 15, 2007
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Provision to abolish monarchy

Ameet Dhakal

KATHMANDU: Nepal's interim Parliament late on Wednesday passed a second amendment to the interim Constitution, giving powers to the lawmakers to abolish the country's 250-year old monarchy.

The newly added Article 159 says two-thirds of the members in the interim Parliament can vote to abolish the monarchy if the institution was proven to be conspiring against the proposed Constituent Assembly election in December.

According to the Constitution, the Cabinet can table a motion seeking the abolition of the monarchy if it concludes that the monarchy was involved in such conspiracy.

The amendment has also included a new clause for the removal of the Prime Minister through a parliamentary vote. One-fourth of the members can table a motion of no-confidence against the Prime Minister.

Mandatory provision

The amendment has made it mandatory for the Prime Minister to summon a special session within 15 days of the registration of such a motion by the parliamentarians. The Constitution did not have a provision for removal of the Prime Minister prior to the amendment.

Altogether, 281 members in the 329-member Parliament voted for the amendment while two voted against it. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was absent during the voting, but sent a letter saying he could not attend the session due to poor health. The Constitution promulgated on January 15 was earlier amended on March 9.

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