Nepal’s interim prime minister, Sushila Karki, on Monday appointed three ministers to her caretaker administration as the country prepares to hold national elections in March following violent street protests that toppled the previous government.
Karki named Kalman Gurung as energy minister, Rameshore Khanal as finance minister and Om Prakash Aryal as home minister. The interim cabinet is charged with organizing elections in six months and restoring order after unrest that left dozens dead and hundreds injured.
The appointments follow massive demonstrations that began Sept. 8 after authorities briefly restricted access to social media. The protests, widely described as a youth-led movement and dubbed the "protest of Gen Z," escalated into violent clashes on Sept. 9 when demonstrators attacked and set fire to government buildings and police opened fire. At least 72 people were killed and hundreds wounded in the unrest, according to government figures.
The army moved onto the streets, imposed a curfew and later brokered a deal that led to the formation of an interim government. Karki, 73, was sworn in as prime minister on Sept. 12. A former chief justice of Nepal’s Supreme Court, she gained prominence for her stances against corruption during her 2016–17 tenure on the bench.
"I did not come to this position because I had sought it but because there were voices from the streets demanding that Sushila Karki should be given the responsibility," Karki said Sunday. "We are here for only six months to complete the task given to us and transfer the responsibility to the upcoming government and ministers."
Karki vowed to target corruption and promote economic equality. "What we need now is to work to end corruption, bring good governance and economic equality," she said.
Analysts and residents said the interim government faces the twin tasks of organizing credible elections and rebuilding damaged institutions. Demonstrators attacked the Parliament building and set fire to the offices of the president, the Supreme Court and several ministries, as well as police stations and private businesses. The homes and enterprises of prominent political families were also targeted during the unrest.
Some Nepalis said they welcomed Karki’s legal expertise. Chandra Lal Mehta, a student, said voters may prefer a younger leader when elections are held in March but that Karki’s legal background qualified her to lead the interim administration. Business owner Shrawan Dahl said Karki was the right choice because she appears to have the backing of both the army and a segment of the public.
Karki’s record has been contentious at times: in April 2017 lawmakers attempted to impeach her while she was chief justice, accusing her of bias. The effort failed and drew criticism as an attack on judicial independence.
The interim government must also manage tensions between the young protesters who demanded systemic change and established political leaders who retain institutional power. Negotiations among protest leaders, the military and the presidency produced the compromise that created the caretaker administration.
Authorities have said the March elections are intended to restore a full civilian government. Karki’s cabinet appointments aim to provide the administrative structure to carry out that mandate while stabilizing the country and repairing institutions damaged during the unrest.