From Streets to Statecraft: Gen Z’s Next Battle

The resounding success of the Gen Z protests in forcing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign has opened a new chapter in Nepal’s political history. Yet, what followed has been far less straightforward. Within just three days of their victory, the movement has found itself entangled in confusion and competing interests—raising concerns that the energy that toppled a government may dissipate before it can translate into meaningful change. The immediate challenge has been disagreement among youth demonstrators over who should head the next government. Their preferred choice, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, has been floated as a potential prime minister. But the process is fraught with constitutional complexities. Influential voices—including constitutional experts, political leaders, and civil society activists—have cautioned that leadership must be determined strictly within the framework of the Constitution, a document drafted after nearly a decade of debate in the Constituent Assembly. In their view, any departure risks a dangerous constitutional vacuum, undermining both legitimacy and stability.