The leader of Nepal’s largest communist party, Khadga Prasad Oli, has been appointed as the new prime minister of the Himalayan nation. This decision comes after the collapse of the previous coalition government, with Oli set to take his oath of office on Monday as confirmed by a statement from the president’s office.
Oli, a veteran politician and three-time prime minister, will be heading a coalition government comprising his Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) and the Nepali Congress party, the two major political parties in Nepal. The previous government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal fell apart on Friday when Oli’s party withdrew its support to form a new alliance.
As per the statement, Oli will need to seek a vote of confidence in parliament within a month to continue serving as prime minister. The newly formed coalition holds a majority in parliament, ensuring their ability to prove their legitimacy.
One of Oli’s primary challenges in office will be managing Nepal’s relationships with neighboring countries India and China, both of which seek to exert influence over the landlocked nation. Nepal shares borders with both countries and heavily relies on India for imports, including oil and essential supplies.
At 72 years old, Oli hails from a village in eastern Nepal and has been actively involved in politics since his youth. He rose through the ranks of the communist party, enduring a total of 14 years in jail for opposing the autocratic rule of Nepal’s monarchs. The monarchy was eventually abolished in 2008 following a transition to a constitutional monarchy in 1990 after widespread protests.
Oli has undergone multiple kidney-related treatments abroad and has undergone kidney transplant surgeries in the past. His health challenges have not deterred him from his political career, and he now assumes the role of prime minister with a wealth of experience and a complex geopolitical landscape to navigate.
