On a momentous Friday evening in Kathmandu, Nepal turned a new page in its democratic history. Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as the country’s first female interim Prime Minister on September 12, 2025, at Shital Niwas, the Presidential Palace—a ceremony that drew the attention of the nation and its neighbors. President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office, marking a milestone not just for Nepalese politics but for women’s empowerment across South Asia.
The path to Karki’s appointment was anything but smooth. For weeks, the country had been gripped by violent, youth-led protests—sometimes described as Gen-Z-led uprisings—against corruption, nepotism, and political disorder. Demonstrators, many of them young and organized through online platforms like Discord, vandalized the homes of senior leaders and even set fire to government buildings, including the Parliament. The unrest reached a boiling point, forcing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign and plunging Nepal into a leadership vacuum.
With the nation teetering between chaos and hope, a rare consensus emerged among traditional political parties and the Gen-Z protest movement. The solution? Entrust the transitional government to Sushila Karki, a figure respected across the political spectrum for her integrity and independence. According to The Kathmandu Post, Karki was selected through a public vote held by Gen-Z leaders online, making her not just the establishment’s choice, but the people’s as well.
Preparations for the new government’s formation began early on September 12 at Sheetal Niwas. Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, senior government officials, and diplomatic corps representatives assembled at the presidential residence. Security was tight, with the chiefs of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and the National Investigation Department all present. Journalists gathered outside, sensing history in the making, while inside, final discussions took place among Gen-Z representatives, Karki herself, President Paudel, and the Chief of Army Staff.
As the evening wore on, the air buzzed with anticipation. The names of Karki’s cabinet ministers remained confidential until the last moment, but it was clear the new government would be a small, focused team. Ultimately, Kulman Ghising, Om Prakash Aryal, and Balanand Sharma joined Karki in taking the oath as cabinet ministers. The cabinet’s first meeting was scheduled for that very night—no time wasted, given the scale of the challenges ahead.
The first order of business was both symbolic and substantive. At 11:00 PM, the cabinet, acting on Karki’s recommendation, dissolved Nepal’s Parliament—a move approved by President Paudel and announced in a formal statement from the President’s Office. Fresh elections for the House of Representatives were scheduled for March 5, 2026, setting in motion a six-month transitional period. The new government’s mandate was clear: restore order, prepare the nation for elections, and address the demands of a restless public.
Among those demands, voiced most loudly by the Gen-Z protesters, were calls to check corruption, end political disorder and nepotism, and—perhaps most notably—lift the recent ban on social media sites. The government responded swiftly; the ban was lifted on the night of September 8, 2025, signaling a willingness to listen and adapt to the voices of the new generation. Though Gen-Z leaders were not included in the cabinet itself, their major demands had been accepted, raising hopes for a more inclusive and accountable political culture.
Sushila Karki’s journey to this historic role is itself the stuff of legend. Born on June 7, 1952, in Biratnagar, she graduated from Banaras Hindu University and Tribhuvan University before beginning her legal career in 1979. Her ascent through Nepal’s judiciary was marked by a series of firsts: she became a Supreme Court judge in 2009 and, in 2016, the nation’s first female Chief Justice. Her tenure was defined by landmark judgments and an unyielding commitment to judicial independence. In 2017, she famously faced an impeachment motion—a move orchestrated by the Maoist Centre and Nepali Congress—that sparked widespread public outrage. The Supreme Court intervened, the motion was dropped, and Karki’s reputation as a fearless defender of justice was cemented.
But Karki is more than a jurist. She is an author, having published her autobiography, Nyaya, in 2018 and a novel, Kara, in 2019, the latter inspired by her time in prison during the Panchayat era. Her life’s work has made her a symbol of resilience and reform, qualities now needed more than ever as she leads Nepal through this period of transition.
The international community has watched these developments closely. India’s Ministry of External Affairs welcomed the formation of the interim government, expressing hope that Karki’s leadership would "help foster peace and stability" in Nepal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally congratulated Karki, calling her appointment "a milestone for women’s empowerment." India pledged continued cooperation, emphasizing the deep ties and mutual interests shared by the two neighbors.
For many Nepalese citizens, Karki’s elevation is a beacon of hope—a sign that the country can move beyond its past divisions and chart a new course toward stability, unity, and development. Her immediate tasks are daunting: restore public trust in government, manage the transition to new elections, and address the aspirations of a youth movement that has fundamentally reshaped the nation’s political landscape. Yet, if her record is any indication, Karki is prepared to meet the moment with impartiality, discipline, and a spirit of reform.
As Nepal embarks on this six-month journey toward fresh elections, all eyes are on Sushila Karki and her cabinet. The stakes are high, the challenges immense, but the sense of possibility is palpable. In a country where the past few years have been marked by political turmoil and public disillusionment, Karki’s appointment stands as a testament to the power of consensus, the resilience of democratic institutions, and the enduring hope for a better future.
With the dissolution of Parliament and the acceptance of key Gen-Z demands, Nepal’s transitional government faces a critical test. But for now, the mood is one of cautious optimism as the nation rallies behind its first female Prime Minister, eager to see what the next chapter will bring.
