The myth of neutrality

A “non-political” executive signalling neutrality is no antidote to corruption.

In Nepal, political parties are often equated with patronage and paralysis, which makes the idea of a leader rising above “partisan bickering” especially appealing. It was therefore unsurprising that, in the wake of the Gen Z uprising in early September, the newly appointed interim Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, told BBC Nepali that she considered herself “non-political”—a remark seemingly crafted to project impartiality and distance herself from the bitter rivalries among the three dominant parties—the CPN-UML, the Nepali Congress and the Maoist Centre—now under heavy public scrutiny. It struck a chord with a public deeply weary of corruption and elite impunity.