NEPAL: After a vacancy of seven months lawmakers find agreement and elect a new Prime Minister

Record ID: 783440

  • Title: NEPAL: After a vacancy of seven months lawmakers find agreement and elect a new Prime Minister
  • Date: 4th February 2011
  • Summary: KATHMANDU, NEPAL (FEBRUARY 3, 2011) (REUTERS) CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY BUILDING LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS ARRIVING AT CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 19th February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nepal, Nepal
  • Country: Nepal
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA325XHF0PFW8XN4Q6XNVDUFKTI
  • Story Text: Nepal's parliament elected a moderate communist leader as prime minister Thursday (February 3), ending a political stalemate which the United Nations had warned could risk a peace process in the republic.
    Jhalnath Khanal, chief of the Communist UML party, was elected prime minister with the support of Maoist former rebels, who dominate parliament, following seven months without an effective government in the Himalayan nation.
    The assembly's Speaker, Subash Chandra Nemwang announced to gathered lawmakers at the Constituent Assembly in Kathmandu, "there have been 368 votes being casted in favour of the legislative member Jhalnath Khanal, and, that number being more than 50 per cent of the total members, Honourable Member Jhalnath Khanal is declared Prime Minister, as per the constitution."
    The election raises hopes for a revival of a stalled peace process begun in 2006 after the end of a decade-long civil war. It could quicken the drafting of a new constitution and a decision on the future of the former combatants.
    Afterwards, Maoist leader, Prachanda said "it is quite clear that peace and the constitution will be the main responsibility of this government. A new chapter has been created today in the history of Nepal."
    And the new prime minister gave an impromptu reaction to waiting journalists in the dark outside the assembly.
    He said, "Today's decision is an important decision, an historic decision. It has created a new basis for our country to move ahead. I feel very happy and my thanks goes to all the friends and parties who have cast their votes in my favour, and those who have not cast in my favour."
    Nepal was plunged into crisis in June when Madhav Kumar Nepal quit as prime minister under pressure from the Maoists after sparring over the control of the army and the integration of the former combatants into regular forces.
    A 2006 peace deal ended the war between the Maoists and the then royal government, in which more than 16,000 people were killed.
    The Maoists won the most seats in parliamentary elections in 2008 and the 239-year old monarchy was later abolished.
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