Nepal: Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli Named New Prime Minister

Facts

• Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), has been sworn in as the prime minister after the collapse of the governing coalition last Friday.¹
• Oli will lead a coalition with the Nepali Congress party and rotate prime ministerial duties with that party's president, Sher Bahadur Deuba, until the 2027 general election. This will be Oli's fourth term as prime minister of Nepal.²
• The 72-year-old must pass a confidence vote in parliament by the end of the month to secure his position. The previous government, led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, collapsed after Oli withdrew his party's support.³
• Oli was arrested for advocating the overthrow of the monarchy in 1973 and served 14 years in jail before becoming a political activist upon his release in 1987. He first served as prime minister in 2015, was re-elected in 2018, and served briefly in 2021.¹
• Oli, whose government will be the country's 14th since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008, announced a 22-member cabinet on Monday.⁴
• The nation sits between China and India, which provide the impoverished country with substantial aid and investment.⁴

Sources: ¹The Manila Times, ²Al Jazeera, ³Voice of America and ⁴Reuters.

Narratives

• Anti-China narrative, as provided by Firstpost. The pro-China Oli is leading Nepal towards the siren song of Chinese debt as he voices support for the Belt and Road Initiative, which would undermine its sovereignty. Nepal antagonized its most valuable partner and risks destroying its ancient relationship with India for benefits that may never materialize.
• Pro-China narrative, as provided by Orfonline.Org. Nepal has every right to pursue a neutral foreign policy and secure the best deal for itself on the world stage, as the paternalism of Indian nationalists is brushed aside. China has been heavily invested in Nepal and has helped the country develop. The world should let Nepal chart its own course without interference.