Respect the Minority, Save the Majority Rule

There is a long-standing belief that in a parliamentary system, the government belongs to the ruling party, while the parliament belongs to the opposition. This implies that the voices raised by the opposition must be taken seriously. This is a fundamental principle of a functioning parliamentary democracy. Healthy criticism of the government is the essence of such a system. The opposition plays a vital role in holding the government accountable and ensuring that its actions and policies do not lead the country or its people into crisis. Unfortunately, Nepal’s parliament is often mired in disputes. The opposition frequently makes a range of demands—some rational, some not—while the ruling party typically responds only under pressure. This pattern has repeated itself time and again, leading to prolonged parliamentary deadlocks. The ongoing obstruction of parliament is now having serious consequences. Crucial legislation required to implement the federal system is either pending or not being amended. Meaningful debate on budget allocation is also being sidelined. Ironically, even on days when parliament is stalled, lawmakers continue to draw their allowances.