Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has been appointed Nepal’s interim prime minister after widespread anti‑corruption protests that left at least 51 people dead and more than 1,300 injured. President Ram Chandra Paudel announced the appointment on Friday, following his decision to dissolve parliament and schedule elections for March 2026. The move resulted from negotiations among the president, representatives of the “Generation Z” protest movement, and army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel.
The military had taken control of Kathmandu and imposed a curfew amid violent clashes between protesters and police. The demonstrations, which began in early September, were sparked by outrage over politicians’ children flaunting their wealth on social media while the country grapples with poverty and youth unemployment exceeding 20 %. The protests intensified after the government banned social‑media platforms, leading demonstrators to set the national parliament on fire and forcing former prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign.
Karki, 73, is widely known for her anti‑corruption stance and becomes the first woman to hold the position of interim prime minister in Nepal. She served as chief justice from 2016 to 2017, the only female to occupy that role. During her tenure, an impeachment attempt by some lawmakers was quickly stalled due to public backlash and a Supreme Court intervention.
The new interim prime minister has not yet issued a statement on her appointment or outlined an immediate agenda. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the development, expressing his country’s commitment to Nepal’s peace, progress, and prosperity. Karki’s appointment marks a significant step in Nepal’s effort to combat corruption and restore stability as the nation prepares for the March 2026 elections. With her reputation for integrity and judicial experience, she is expected to play a key role in addressing the grievances of protesting youth and rebuilding public trust in the government.
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