Three days after hectic negotiations, former chief justice Sushila Karki was appointed the country’s 42th prime minister on Friday. She has been entrusted with holding the elections by March 4, 2026.

President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Karki on the same day, at the President’s Office, Sheetal Niwas.

After concluding the oath-taking ceremony, the new prime minister recommended the dissolution of the House of Representatives on Friday night, Kiran Pokhrel, press adviser to President Paudel told the Post.

Upon the recommendations from the new prime minister, the President has effectively dissolved the House, Pokhrel told the Post. Since the mandate of the new government is to hold elections within six months, the president has approved the dissolution based on that recommendation, he said. But National Assembly will remain intact.

During the swearing-in ceremony, Vice President Ramsahay Yadav, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, politicians including former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai and Sumana Shrestha of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, heads of constitutional bodies, heads of security agencies, diplomats, and senior government officials, among others, were present at the ceremony.

Representatives of the Gen Z movement including the chairman of the Hami Nepali group, Sudan Gurung, were also in attendance. However, notably absent was the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balen Shah. But he wrote a message on social media platforms on Friday night where he stated that the country has achieved change because of the contributions and sacrifices of Gen Z.

“Heartfelt tribute to the brave martyrs. Your contribution is invaluable and will forever guide future generations with a sense of patriotism and duty. You have our deepest respect and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” he wrote.

Speculations were also there that Karki will constitute a small cabinet by Friday itself and it will recommend the dissolution of the House of Representatives. But cabinet formation did not happen on Friday but sources told the Post that by Saturday, some members will be added.

Former Nepal Army General Balananda Sharma, former Supreme Court judge Anand Mohan Bhattarai, former Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority Kulman Ghising, advocate Om Prakash Aryal among some other professionals are in the list.

Before the oath, Dipak Kafle, secretary at the President’s Office, said Karki had been given the responsibility of holding elections within six months.

As per Article 61 (4) of the Constitution, the President has appointed Karki as the prime minister of the interim government, said a notice issued by the President’s Office.

After the swearing-in ceremony, Karki went to Singha Durbar and assumed office as prime minister at the Home Ministry’s new building.

From Friday, Karki wears a new hat as Nepal’s first female prime minister. Earlier, in 2016, she had already broken barriers as the country’s first woman chief justice, a post she held until her retirement in June 2017.

The outgoing prime minister, KP Sharma Oli, resigned on Monday following the unrest in Kathmandu and across Nepal that left 51 persons dead and caused destruction of private and public properties worth trillions of rupees. The anti-corruption protests called by Gen Z youths, who were inflamed by a social media ban, culminated with the inauguration of a new political dispensation in the country.

Nepal has elected its first woman Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, to lead the Interim Government of Nepal, finally ending the power vacuum, Hami Nepal, said after Karki sworn in as prime minister. “We thank everyone who made this possible, who collectively fought for this very day, and all Nepalis who believed and hoped that change was possible. This is our victory.”

“This victory is not ours alone. It is a tribute written on the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives for Nepal’s future. Long live Nepal, the land of brave,” said Hami Nepal, an NGO driven by youth volunteers but driver of the present upheaval who brought political changes in Nepal during the two day protests, in which at least 51 people were killed and over 1,000 injured.

Eight years after serving as chief justice, Karki now has the rare opportunity to lead the country through a difficult transition and hold elections within six months.

Following the deadly protests that left 51 youths dead in three days, political negotiations began immediately. It took as many days for key stakeholders—the President’s Office, Nepali Army, Gen Z leaders, and major political parties—to reach agreement on the new dispensation.

There were sharp differences among key stakeholders over how to appoint Karki as prime minister. Army Chief General Ashokraj Sigdel helped bridge differences between the President’s Office and agitating Gen Z, according to two sources closely involved in negotiations.

While the President was adamant about staying within constitutional bounds, Gen Z youths were furious over what they saw as unnecessary delays. The differences centred on whether or not to dissolve Parliament and if Parliament were to be dissolved, when, said one negotiator. Finally, Karki and Gen Z agreed to dissolve the House on the recommendation of the new Cabinet.

“The state was in a state of crisis after Monday’s incident. The magnitude of infiltration was huge. The army feared a grave national security crisis and constitutional void. Oli had already resigned, but the President was still there. The army’s leadership quickly took over the baton, assumed security control to contain the crisis, and stopped it from derailing the constitution,” said the same negotiator.

Besides domestic stakeholders like the President, Gen Z youths, and leaders of major political parties, the army’s leadership was also in touch with major powers like India, China and the US, and tried to seek their perspective on the present crisis and ways to defuse it.

It appeared that India, China and the US all backed the path of constitutional and democratic processes. This gave the army leadership room to find a democratic way out, the negotiator said.

Then the President’s Office and the army leadership started negotiations to work out a solution by staying within democratic and constitutional frameworks. But Gen Z was not convinced, the negotiator added, as other stakeholders like royalist forces and Durga Prasai were continuously angling for space in the new political dispensation.

In order to manage the political transition, the President also consulted constitutional experts on how to defuse the crisis, as Gen Z and Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah were not ready to compromise on their demand for dissolution of Parliament.

“But the army chief continuously engaged with all relevant stakeholders, explaining the complexities and showing ways to balance the demands of different sides. The army leadership could thus manage the political transition within democratic and constitutional parameters,” the negotiator told the Post.

But some political parties have opposed the idea of House dissolution. CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal issued a statement on Friday night, criticising the understanding on House dissolution.

After Karki’s appointment, the President’s Office has clarified that the appointment was made by exercising the constitutional authority granted to the President under Article 61 of the Constitution.

In the appointment letter to Karki as prime minister, she has been given a mandate to conduct the election of the House of Representatives within six months.

Although the specific article of the Constitution is not mentioned, it appears that the President exercised the authority under Article 61, likely invoking clauses 2, 3, and 4. Clause 2 states that the President shall be the head of state of Nepal and shall perform his/her functions in accordance with the Constitution and federal laws.

President Paudel has referred to the appointment of Karki as being based on the difficult and extraordinary circumstances created by the Gen Z movement. He mentioned that the appointment was made based on consultations with the Gen Z movement, political parties, and stakeholders.

"Addressing the difficult and extraordinary situation that has arisen in the country, and in accordance with the desires and aspirations expressed by the younger generation, as well as based on consultations with political parties and other stakeholders, it has become necessary to uphold and protect the Constitution of Nepal and promote national unity,” said the notice issued by the President Office.

“Therefore, in the capacity of the head of state, and based on the recommendation and consent of the prime minister, and in accordance with the constitutional mandate entrusted to the President by the Constitution of Nepal, the President has appointed Karki as the prime minister of Nepal’s interim government, with the mandate to complete the next election of the House of Representatives within six months—as stated in the appointment letter.”

Welcomed by international community

The Kathmandu-based international community has welcomed the new prime minister.

The government of Japan expressed hope that Nepal will make peaceful and democratic transition as early as possible.

Likewise the British Embassy in Kathmandu also welcomed the appointment of Karki as Nepal’s interim prime minister, calling it an important step following last week’s tragic events.

The embassy stated that the country is still reeling from the heartbreaking loss of life, injuries, and damage to property. “In this context, the appointment of Karki is seen as a crucial move toward stability and transition.”

“As Nepal’s oldest friend, we recognise the challenges ahead and affirm our commitment to supporting Nepali aspirations for accountability and inclusive governance,” the embassy said in a statement.