- Title: NEPAL: Nepal assembly fails to elect first president
- Date: 20th July 2008
- Summary: (W4) KATHMANDU, NEPAL (JULY 19, 2008) (REUTERS) POLICE IN RIOT GEAR STANDING OUTSIDE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE CONVENTION CENTRE GATE MEMBERS LINE UP IN RAIN VOTING FOR PRESIDENT IN PROGRESS MEMBERS CASTING BALLOTS IN SEPARATE BOXES FOR PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TOP LEADERS CASTING VOTES PRIME MINISTER GIRIJA PRASAD KOIRALA QUEUING/ GIRIJA INSIDE VOTING SCREEN ROOM GIRIJA SHOWING HIS IDENTITY CARD GIRIJA CASTING HIS VOTE AFTER MARKING THE CANDIDATE'S NAME GIRIJA WALKING AWAY GIRIJA GETTING INTO CAR NEPALI CONGRESS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE RAM BARAN SINGH YADAV TALKING VOTER (SOUNDBITE) English) NEPALI CONGRESS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE RAM BARAN YADAV SAYING: "I will try my best how that new democracy that is a republic may be 'systematised' and the new constitution should come in time and the election should be held in time, so that my first priority is that there should be peace process go ahead" MEMBERS SEATED IN CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY HALL (SOUNDBITE) (Nepali) OLDEST ASSEMBLY MEMBER, 730YEAR-OLD KUL BAHADUR GURUNG, ANNOUNCING RESULT, SAYING: "As the necessary 298 or more votes were not secured by any of the candidates, nobody is eligible for president" ASSEMBLY MEMBERS (SOUNDBITE) (Nepali) KUL BAHADUR GURUNG SAYING: "As there is a provision to make a recall between the two with the higher number of votes, that secured candidates Ram Baran Yadav and Ram Raja Prasad Singh final round scheduled for Monday July 21" MEMBERS CLAPPING
- Embargoed: 4th August 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nepal
- Country: Nepal
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA42KULZARUS4BQOTZ7HO9Y6BMV
- Story Text: The two Nepal presidential candidates with the highest number of votes go to the final round.
The new republic of Nepal failed to elect its first president on Saturday (July 19) when none of the three candidates was able to muster the majority needed to open the way to the formation of a new government.
Nepal has been in political limbo since April, when former Maoist rebels won an historic election which left them short of a parliamentary majority, but enabled them to form a special assembly that abolished the 239-year-old monarchy.
The election of a president, a ceremonial post, is a key step towards installing a government that is likely to be led by the Maoists with support from other political parties.
But in Saturday's vote, none of the candidates fielded by the three major parties won the 298 votes needed, signalling the continuation of the political deadlock.
Nepali Congress presidential candidate Ram Baran Yadav was one of the candidates who received the high number of votes. He will now be running in a final round against Ram Raja Prasad Singh on Monday (July 21).
Yadav said he was hopeful a new constitution "should come in time" and added that his priority was to establish a peace process.
Kul Bahadur Gurung, the oldest assembly member at 73, announced the result to the Assembly.
"As the necessary 298 or more votes were not secured by any of the candidates, nobody is eligible for President."
He confirmed Yadav will be running against 73-year-old republican, Ramraja Prasad Singh, who is backed by the Maoists.
Under the 2006 peace deal, the two sides ended the decade-long civil war and the Maoist rebels agreed to take part in electoral politics.
The Maoists say they are in talks with other political parties to form a government. But other parties have so far rejected their overtures, saying the former rebels still practise violence and intimidation. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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