Nepal has entered a historic chapter as Sushila Karki, the country’s former chief justice, was sworn in as its first woman Prime Minister. The swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan was attended by President Ram Chandra Paudel, Vice President Ram Sahay Yadav, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Rawat, and India’s Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava.
Karki’s appointment comes after days of widespread protests led by frustrated youth, demanding an end to corruption and rising unemployment. The demonstrations, which saw heavy police crackdowns, resulted in at least 51 deaths and eventually forced former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign. The protests highlighted growing anger among Generation Z citizens, whose collective push for change played a decisive role in shaping this transition.
The decision to appoint Karki as interim Prime Minister was reached through consensus between the President, Nepal Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel, and representatives of the youth-led movement. General elections have been scheduled for March 5, 2026, marking the next step in Nepal’s turbulent political journey.
While names like engineer Kulman Ghising and Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah were also considered, Karki’s strong anti-corruption stance and experience as the nation’s first female chief justice made her the final choice. During her judicial tenure from 2016 to 2017, she earned praise for taking uncompromising positions against corruption, even surviving an impeachment attempt widely seen as politically motivated. Her appointment is seen as both symbolic and pragmatic a move to calm public anger and steer the nation toward stability. For many in Nepal, Karki embodies integrity and resilience, making her leadership a potential turning point in the country’s modern political history.
