Rule by ordinance erodes democratic values

The government should consider withdrawing ordinances, seeking parliamentary endorsement instead.

On April 22, President Ramchandra Paudel, on the government’s recommendation, summoned a joint session of both Houses of the federal Parliament for April 30. A day later, the decision was indefinitely suspended. Although the government maintained that the session was deferred by only a few days, citing incomplete preparations at the Parliament Secretariat, the real intent became clearer on Monday. The session was called off before it could even begin in order to issue ordinances.