Nepal's newly-appointed interim prime minister says she will be in the post for no longer than six months.
I did not wish for this job. It was after voices from the streets that I was compelled to accept, Sushila Karki said, speaking for the first time since being sworn into office on Friday. She stated her intention to hand over power to a new government following elections on March 5, 2025.
Her appointment comes after over 70 people were killed during anti-corruption protests that ousted the previous government.
Karki took the oath of office after an agreement with protest leaders from the so-called Gen Z movement.
We have to work according to the thinking of the Gen Z generation, she stated. What this group is demanding is the end of corruption, good governance, and economic equality.
The mass protests began on September 8, triggered by a ban on social media platforms, leading to chaos that included vandalism of politicians' homes and the burning of parliament.
The violent unrest left a toll of 72 deaths, including three police personnel, according to officials.
I feel ashamed. If they were Nepalis who destroyed these essential structures, how can they be called Nepalis? the interim prime minister expressed on Sunday.
Karki, a former Supreme Court chief justice with a reputation for integrity, will now face challenges to restore law and order, rebuild parliament, and address the concerns of the Gen Z protesters, who yearn for meaningful change, along with constituents worried about the future of Nepal's democratic processes.
