Nepal’s major political parties have demanded the country’s president reinstates the parliament he dissolved following deadly anti-corruption protests.In a statement, eight parties – including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Maoist Centre – said President Ram Chandra Poudel acted unconstitutionally.Poudel dissolved the House of Representatives on Friday upon the recommendation of newly appointed interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki – it was also a key demand from the protest movement.More than 50 people were killed in clashes with riot police during this week’s mass protests sparked by a ban on social media platforms. Karki was appointed after a deal was reached with protest leaders.Saturday’s statement demanding the reinstatement of the parliament was signed by the chief whips of the eight political parties. They argued the step taken by the president was unconstitutional and against the precedents set by Nepal’s judiciary.The dissolution of the parliament was a major demand by student leaders from the so-called “Gen Z” protest movement.But the eight parties say the protesters’ demands – including new elections announced for 5 March next year – should be addressed through an institution voted by the people.Later on Saturday, President Poudel urged all sides to show restraint and help conduct the elections. In a statement, he said a peaceful resolution was being achieved in a “very… difficult and scary situation”.”The constitution is alive, the parliamentary system is alive and the federal democratic republic still exists. People have an opportunity to move forward in the path of a more efficient democracy by conducting elections within six months,” the president said.Karki, a 73-year-old former Supreme Court chief justice and the first woman to lead the impoverished Himalayan nation, was sworn in during a brief ceremony in the capital Kathmandu.She is expected to appoint ministers to her cabinet within a few days.She is widely regarded as having a clean image, and her leadership of the interim government is being supported by student leaders fro …
