Disorderly House

The highest policy-making body in the land must mend its shoddy image soon.

In the three decades and a bit since the restoration of democracy in 1990, Nepal’s national Parliament has never been able to function effectively. This is largely due to its failure to institutionalise parliamentary norms and values. The role of top leaders of major political forces is crucial in guiding the House in the right direction. But, instead, Nepali politicians have often held the legislature hostage to their interests. For instance, when leaders cannot agree on a power-sharing deal, they disrupt House proceedings, completely forgetting their duties as lawmakers. Interestingly, the parliamentarians seem to adhere to different sets of norms depending on whether their mother parties are in the government or not.