International   

Nepal to be declared republic

KATHMANDU: The deck to declare Nepal a republic is now clear. Political parties have decided to declare the nation a republic at the Constituent Assembly meeting on Wednesday. They are also close to a sealing a power-sharing deal.

On Tuesday morning, the three parties— the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists), Nepali Congress (NC) and Communist Party of Nepal (UML) — were discussing the details of an agreement over two of the most contentious issues: Amendment of interim Constitution and power-sharing.

The deal will be a compromise for the three parties. The NC and UML would give up their demand for amendment of the interim Constitution to allow removal of the Prime Minister by a simple majority instead of the existing two-thirds vote-out. The Maoists, on their part, have agreed to elect a ceremonial President immediately after the monarchy is abolished.

Though the parties were still discussing the nitty-gritty of the agreement, including the power and responsibility of the ceremonial President, till late on Tuesday evening, the general spirit of the agreement is to enter into a power-sharing deal and move ahead collectively. A senior leader told The Hindu that the top four parties would now share the post of the Prime Minister, President, Vice-President, and Chair of the Constituent Assembly. That means candidates from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists), NC, UML and Madhesi Peoples’ Rights Forum would now take the post of Executive Prime Minister, ceremonial President, Chair of the CA and Vice-President, respectively.

The parties have also agreed that Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala would table a proposal for declaration of the republic when the CA meeting commences on Wednesday. Once the House passes the proposal, Nepal will be declared a republic on Wednesday itself, ending the 240-year-long monarchy.

The government has declared a three-day public holiday, starting Wednesday, to celebrate the declaration of republic.

With women comprising 33 per cent of the CA and a proportionate representation of major ethnic groups, the CA is perhaps one of the most inclusive legislative bodies in the world. About one-third members of the CA come from the Madhesi community, and another one-third from indigenous communities.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Suu Kyi’s house arrest extended
Xenophobes attack South Asians in Rome
It’s a sign of LTTE’s setbacks: Rajapaksa
France for promoting nuclear energy to fight climate change
Nepal to be declared republic
CA members take oath
Iran may be withholding information, says IAEA report
Complaint against Lawson
Bangladesh sets up Truth Commission
EADS invites India to join Eurofighter upgrade
The Geography Bee from India

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu