Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Poudel on Friday dissolved parliament and scheduled fresh elections for March 5, following the appointment of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim prime minister, according to the president’s office.
Karki has become the first woman to lead the Himalayan nation following protests that caused the collapse of the last administration, reports AP/UNB.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at the presidential residence and broadcast on state television, followed days of unrest that toppled the government. Karki, who earned wide recognition during her tenure as Nepal’s only female chief justice between 2016 and 2017, takes office amid violent protests that erupted in Kathmandu earlier this week.
The most recent legislative elections in Nepal were held in 2022.
Demonstrations, which began on Monday over a ban on social media, quickly escalated despite the policy being withdrawn. Protesters stormed government buildings, set fire to the parliament, the presidential palace, and private businesses.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli resigned and fled his residence as the army moved in to secure the capital. Talks among protesters, the military, and the president paved the way for the interim arrangement.
Authorities said by Friday at least 51 people had been killed.
Most victims were demonstrators hit by police gunfire, while others died during an attempted prison break in Kathmandu. Police also reported three officers among the dead.
Since Tuesday night, the military has enforced a strict curfew, allowing limited hours for residents to leave their homes to buy essentials as soldiers maintain heavy patrols across the capital.
