Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has decided to virtually participate in the second Summit for Democracy to be hosted by the US President Joe Biden on March 29 and 30. The United States will co-host the second Summit for Democracy with the governments of Costa Rica, the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, and Republic of Zambia.

Two government officials, one each from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed to the Post that Dahal has told them to make necessary preparations and the US side has accordingly been informed.

“With the consent of the prime minister, we have confirmed our participation and are now in the process of getting a time slot for the prime minister to make his statement,” said the foreign ministry official.

Prime Minister Dahal also responded to the invitation letter sent by US President Biden, whereby Dahal thanked him for the invitation to the summit, the official added.

The prime minister will address the summit in a virtual mode on March 30, said the other official from the PMO.

The second Summit for Democracy will assemble world leaders in a virtual, plenary format, followed by gatherings in each of the co-host countries with representatives from government, civil society, and the private sector, according to a statement from the US State Department.

“Co-hosting the second Summit for Democracy with a regionally diverse group of co-hosts reinforces the truth that a safer and fairer world grounded in democratic values is both a shared aspiration and a shared responsibility,” the statement said.

In December 2021, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had participated in the summit.

According to the Americans, as democracy is increasingly under threat globally, the US president took the initiative of bringing the democratic regimes together in order to defend and restore democratic values and human rights around the world.

In his address at the time, then Prime Minister Deuba had reiterated Nepal’s commitment to further strengthening democracy by ensuring equality, inclusion and justice, while protecting civil rights and liberties.

“The prime minister highlighted universal suffrage, separation of powers, checks and balances, independent judiciary, protection of rights and freedoms as well as freedom of speech as the key features of Nepal’s multi-party democracy,” said a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in December 2021.

Underlining the universality of human rights, which are interrelated and mutually reinforcing, he stressed that fulfillment of basic needs of the people should be the priority of all in order to strengthen democracy. “He expressed the view that democracy thrives in an enabling environment where people can live a more dignified life based on economic growth and sustainable development,” said the statement.

“The participation in the Summit for Democracy means continuation of our policy as per the spirit of the democracy,” the official at the prime minister’s office said.

The Summit for Democracy is also seen as an American attempt to cultivate democratic allies. “We are living through an era defined by challenges to accountable and transparent governance,” said the State Department while announcing the second Summit for Democracy on November 29.

“From wars of aggression to changes in climate, societal mistrust and technological transformation, it could not be clearer that all around the world, democracy needs champions at all levels. Together with other invitees to the second summit, we look forward to taking up this call, and demonstrating how transparent, accountable governance remains the best way to deliver lasting prosperity, peace, and justice,” the statement added.

Samantha Power, administrator of the USAID, during her Nepal visit on February 8 and 9, had confirmed that Prime Minister Dahal had been invited to participate in the summit.

“The invitation has been extended to Prime Minister Prachanda. This gives an opportunity to the prime minister to reinforce and continue what the former prime minister had committed to. Prachanda will also talk about his plans to strengthen the democratic process and rule of law,” said Power during a press conference in Kathmandu on February 9.

Prime Minister Dahal, despite once leading a violent communist movement, now seems to be making an effort to reach out to other democracies.

“We are a democracy, so naturally, there is no question about our participation in the summit,” said CD Bhatta, who frequently writes on issues of geopolitics and foreign affairs. “Our leftists have some dilemmas. Back at home they need to be communist and to uphold the communist ideology. But for outsiders, they have to be seen as democrats.”

Democracies are declining globally, so the US wants to boost the confidence of democratic countries, which is why it is hosting the summit, said Bhatta.

“This is also a message to Russia and China, which the West sees as authoritarian regimes, that democracies don’t die easily,” Bhatta added.