In a year marked by youth-led uprisings that swept across continents, Nepal finds itself at the heart of a profound political transformation. The ripples of the so-called Gen Z movement, which toppled governments from Madagascar to Kathmandu, have not only altered the country’s leadership but also set the stage for sweeping reforms to its electoral system. As the dust begins to settle, Nepal’s government is scrambling to address the demands of a generation that has proven it will not be silenced.
On December 22, 2025, Prime Minister Sushila Karki convened an all-party meeting at the historic Singha Durbar, as reported by Republica. The agenda was urgent and clear: seek input from political parties, the Election Commission, security agencies, and civil society on three pivotal election reforms. These include granting voting rights to Nepalis living abroad, allowing citizens to vote outside their home constituencies, and introducing a no-vote option on ballots. The government, recognizing the need for swift and meaningful change, has already drafted an amendment bill and is actively soliciting feedback to refine it further.
The proposals are nothing short of groundbreaking for Nepal. For the first time, the bill suggests that Nepalis living overseas could cast their ballots at Nepali missions abroad, a move that could enfranchise millions. Additionally, the draft would let voters unable to reach their designated polling stations vote from any constituency within the country—a nod to the realities of internal migration and displacement. Perhaps most notably, the no-vote option would allow citizens to formally register their disapproval of all candidates, a powerful tool for a disillusioned electorate.
These reforms are not happening in a vacuum. They come on the heels of the Gen Z uprising that rocked Nepal in September 2025. According to AFP and CEBU Daily News, the protests were part of a global wave of youth-led demonstrations that also toppled the government in Madagascar and rattled regimes from Peru to Morocco. What made these protests unique—apart from their scale and ferocity—was the adoption of the skull and crossbones symbol from the Japanese manga One Piece. It became a rallying emblem for a generation raised on digital culture, repurposed as a banner of resistance against what they saw as oppressive and unresponsive governments.
“I grew up with ‘One Piece’, like the vast majority of Gen Z, so it became a symbol for us,” explained Kai, a 26-year-old protester from Madagascar, in an interview with AFP. The movement’s grievances were as varied as the countries it touched: unemployment and poverty in Latin America, education and health inequities in Morocco, new taxes in Kenya, and in Nepal, corruption among the elite and social media bans. Yet, as Professor Cecile Van de Velde of the University of Montreal observed, the movement’s use of platforms like Discord, Instagram, and TikTok allowed it to transcend local issues and morph into “the new face of a global and generational revolt.”
In Nepal, the protests culminated in the dissolution of the House of Representatives on September 12, 2025. The government fell, and an interim prime minister was appointed after a vote conducted on Discord—a striking testament to the movement’s digital roots. The interim leader quickly established a commission to investigate the deaths of dozens of young people during the violence, signaling a willingness to confront the tragic costs of the uprising head-on.
But the aftermath has been anything but simple. On December 23, 2025, the commission investigating the Gen Z movement’s damages sent a letter to former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, requesting him to appear and give a statement. The commission warned that legal action would follow if Lekhak failed to comply, as reported by Republica. Statements from other officials have already been recorded, though former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has publicly refused to testify. The commission’s work underscores the seriousness with which the interim government is treating the events of September—and the high stakes for those implicated in the crackdown.
The Policy Research Institute had previously conducted a study on granting voting rights to Nepalis abroad, submitting its findings to the government. This research, along with the recommendations from various stakeholders, is now feeding into the legislative process. The Election Commission, for its part, has presented its preparedness for the upcoming polls, while the home ministry has briefed stakeholders on new security arrangements and the evolving legal framework.
The next chapter in Nepal’s political saga is already on the horizon. Elections for the House of Representatives have been scheduled for March 5, 2026. As Yujan Rajbhandari, a protester and activist, told AFP, “We are in the second phase of the movement” leading up to the elections. The focus has shifted from street protests to raising awareness about voter registration and fighting corruption through institutional means. “We won’t stop,” Rajbhandari insisted, capturing the resolve of a generation that has already upended the status quo.
Globally, the Gen Z protests have had mixed results. In Madagascar, the army stepped in after the president fled, installing a government largely composed of political insiders—a move that disillusioned many young activists. In Morocco, some social reforms have been promised, but thousands of protesters have faced prosecution. The core of these movements remains highly organized, but their leaderless, spontaneous nature has made it difficult to translate street power into lasting political projects. Police repression has been a common thread, with many activists facing violence and legal consequences for their participation.
In Nepal, however, the willingness of the interim government to engage with Gen Z’s demands—by forming a commission, pursuing electoral reforms, and setting the stage for more inclusive elections—marks a potential turning point. The proposed changes to voting laws could not only address longstanding grievances about representation and disenfranchisement but also serve as a model for other countries grappling with similar generational divides.
As the country prepares for its March elections, all eyes are on whether these reforms will be enacted in time and whether they will be enough to satisfy a restless and politically awakened youth. The outcome could determine not just the future of Nepal’s democracy, but also offer lessons for a world where the voices of young people are growing louder—and harder to ignore.
