Nepal's new leader vows to meet protesters' demands

2025-09-14 13:22:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Nepal's new leader vowed to meet protesters' demands to "end corruption" as she began her term as acting prime minister after new protesters ousted her predecessor from power.

Sushila Karki, 73, a former chief justice, has been tasked with restoring order and responding to protesters' demands for a corruption-free future ahead of elections due in six months.

The protests began on Monday, sparked by a ban on social media, and quickly escalated, with Parliament and key government buildings being set on fire, while the protests also grew due to the dire economic situation in Nepal.

"We need to work according to the way Generation Z thinks," Karki said, in his first public statement after taking office on Friday.

A fifth of Nepalese people aged 15-24 are unemployed, according to the World Bank, while GDP per capita is $1,447.

"What this group is asking for is no corruption, good governance and economic equality. You and I must be determined to achieve this," she added.

Karki observed a minute's silence on Sunday in memory of those killed during the riots, before beginning meetings at the main government building of Singa Durbar - where several buildings were set on fire during mass protests on Tuesday.

At least 72 people were killed during two days of protests and 191 others were injured, the government's principal secretary, Eaknarayan Aryal, said on September 14.

Previously, authorities had said the number of victims was 51.

These were the worst unrest since the end of a decade-long civil war and the removal of the monarchy in 2008.

The appointment of Karki, known for her independence, came after intensive negotiations between the army chief, General Ashok Raj Sigdel, and President Ram Chandra Paudel, including representatives of "Gen Z" - as the youth protest movement is known.

Thousands of young activists have used the Discord app to choose Karki as their favorite leader.

"I wouldn't want to come to power in the situation I came to. But my name was chosen by the protesters," she said.

Parliament has been dissolved and elections in Nepal are scheduled for March 5, 2026.

"In no way will I stay in power for more than six months. We will fulfill our responsibilities and hand over power to the new Parliament and new ministers," she said during her address to the nation.

President Paudel said Saturday evening that "a peaceful solution was found through a difficult process."

He said the situation in Nepal - with a population of 30 million - is "difficult, complicated and very serious".

Nepalese soldiers have increased their presence on the streets following the protests.

More than 12,500 prisoners escaped from prisons during the chaos and capturing them poses a serious challenge for authorities./ REL