Kathmandu, Nepal — Nepal is at a political crossroads as mass “Gen Z” protests propel the country’s first female chief justice, Sushila Karki, into the spotlight as the preferred interim leader. The unprecedented youth-led movement has shaken the Himalayan nation, forcing Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign earlier this week after deadly clashes left 19 demonstrators dead.
On Thursday, protest leaders formally proposed Karki’s name to President Ramchandra Paudel and the army as the candidate to guide the nation through the crisis. Karki, 73, made history in 2016 when she became Nepal’s first female chief justice. Although retired, she is now being asked to temporarily steer the country amid what observers describe as its worst political upheaval in years.
Ojaswi Raj Thapa, a representative of the demonstrators, emphasized that the youth movement is not seeking to upend the constitutional order.
“We will dissolve the parliament. We are not trying to dissolve the constitution,” Thapa said. “We may need some changes to the constitution but we don’t want to dissolve the constitution.”
The “Gen Z protests” have been marked by the overwhelming presence of young Nepalis—many in their teens and early twenties—demanding systemic reforms, accountability, and fresh leadership. The rallies quickly escalated into nationwide unrest, culminating in Oli’s resignation on Tuesday, just a day after security forces fatally shot 19 demonstrators.
The youth-driven mobilization, fueled by frustration with corruption, unemployment, and political paralysis, is seen as a watershed moment in Nepal’s democratic history.
Local media report that Karki is already engaged in talks with President Paudel and Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel over the proposed transition. Paudel has vowed to safeguard the constitution while working toward a resolution.
“I appeal to all parties to be confident that a solution to the problem is being sought as soon as possible to address the demands of the agitating citizens and to cooperate with restraint in maintaining peace and order in the country,” the president said in a statement.
Nepal, wedged strategically between India and China, has faced repeated bouts of instability since the end of its decade-long civil war in 2006 and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.
With parliament now facing dissolution and the youth demanding a clean break from old politics, Karki’s potential appointment is seen as a test of whether Nepal can chart a democratic and inclusive path forward.
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