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Maoists stake claim for Premier

KATHMANDU: The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) on Thursday gave up its claim for the post of President, but stuck to its stance against amending the interim Constitution.

The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) Central Secretariat meeting, however, staked claim for the Prime Minister’s post. Further, it said the President should be a non-political personality. This move is a major concession from the Maoists, who till now had been demanding that, as the largest party in the Constituent Assembly, the posts of President and Prime Minister should go to them.

The Maoists have decided not to give in to a major demand by the other parties — amendment in the interim Constitution to include a provision of a simple majority to elect or remove a Prime Minister.

Almost all parties, including the Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (UML), Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) and Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party (TMDP), want the interim Constitution to be amended.

The Maoists have argued that such an amendment would encourage horse-trading and create instability during the transition, affecting the drafting of the Constitution.

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