New Govt Must Work on Focused Reforms, Not Ambitious Agendas

First, warm congratulations and best wishes to Nepal’s first woman Prime Minister, Sushila Karki. Her appointment, following the dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR) and the announcement of fresh elections, comes at a critical turning point in Nepal. The lifting of curfew and prohibitory orders in Kathmandu signals a return to normalcy, but the task ahead is immense. With her background as a lawyer, Chief Justice and defender of the rule of law, Prime Minister Karki carries the trust of many Nepalis who expect her to restore the state’s credibility. The recent protests left the nation shaken. Dozens of lives were lost, public and public and private property worth several billions of rupees was destroyed and public trust in the state has been gravely eroded. Restoring this trust is the government’s greatest challenge. That will not be achieved through lofty promises or sprawling agendas but through clear and focused action. The transitional government has at most six months; if it tries to do too much, it risks failing in everything. State failure is not a price the nation can afford.