NEPAL: Strike in Nepal against unity government called by political parties

Record ID: 341090

  • Title: NEPAL: Strike in Nepal against unity government called by political parties
  • Date: 19th February 2013
  • Summary: KATHMANDU, NEPAL (FEBRUARY 19, 2013) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET
  • Embargoed: 6th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nepal
  • Country: Nepal
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADGXVYGCM7D5XAO7KWVLQU0TYE
  • Story Text: Thousands in Nepal stay at home and close shops in opposition to Nepal's main political parties setting up a unity government before a national election, that aims to end a political deadlock.


    Thousands in Nepal stayed at home or closed their businesses on Tuesday (February 19) in a strike called by a Maoist Party splinter group.
    Nepal's main political parties said on Monday (February 18) they had reached an agreement to set up a unity government before a national election in the middle of the year, in a deal that could end a deadlock after a decade of civil war.
    Maoist Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, 58, will step down and Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi of the Supreme Court will head the new administration to oversee the vote in May or June, the parties said.
    "There have been discussions all day over the propositions prepared by the task force, and we have reached consensus on various points," Vice President of Nepali congress Ramchandra Poudel said on Monday.
    The opposition had demanded that Bhattarai, a former Maoist rebel leader, quit in favour of a caretaker government to oversee delayed elections.
    The ballot will choose an assembly that will complete the writing of a new constitution, Nepal's first after the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.
    "There has been consensus amidst the four parties to hold election during the month of Jestha (around first week of June) under the leadership of Chief justice by forming a cabinet," Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kazi Shrestha said.
    Maoist Party activist Chandra Dulal, on Tuesday said the decision has not been agreed by all parties.
    "The idea of making the Chief Justice a Premier or to form a cabinet headed by him is not a decision formed by all the parties," he said.
    Nepal has been without a parliament since last May when the term of a special assembly expired without completing a draft of the new constitution. An election had been scheduled for last November.
    The country has struggled to rebuild itself after a decade of civil war that ended in 2006, leaving more than 16,000 dead.
    The ongoing instability has had a knock-on effect on the country's economy, which is heavily dependent on aid and tourism.
    The International Monetary Fund expects GDP growth to slow to 3.8 percent this fiscal year ending in mid-July compared to 4.6 last year.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register