Beyond Populist Fixes: A Smarter Path to Stability in Nepal’s Democracy
Nepal’s dramatic Himalayan landscape belies a political turmoil marked by frequent leadership changes. Since the end of the monarchy in 2008, Nepal has cycled through governments at a breakneck pace 14 different prime ministers in 16 years. This chronic instability frustrates voters and fuels demands for change. In recent youth-led “Gen Z” protests (2025), demonstrators even used online platforms (e.g. Discord) to symbolically select an interim leader. These populist actions underscore deep dissatisfaction with the status quo and have intensified calls to reform how Nepal chooses its executive. In particular, some advocate directly electing the prime minister by popular vote. At first glance this seems democratic and stable, but a closer analysis drawing on Nepal’s experience and international examples reveals serious downsides on both fronts. The Parliamentary Framework in Nepal Today Nepal’s 2015 Constitution establishes a parliamentary republic: the executive power rests ...