Nepal Parliament Elects Prime Minister
Constituent Assembly Votes in Maoist Supremo to Head Government
Aug 15, 2008
Maoist fortunes had taken an unexpected turn upwards after their victory in April's Constituent Assembly elections, and the party was widely expected to emerge as one of the most powerful in the interim government, with its leaders vying for several key ministries.
Difficulties After CA Elections
After a republic was declared in May and King Gyanendra left the palace the following month, the political process had stopped and started. This was partly because of inter-party squabbling over which party would receive which ministries in government, a renewed agitation by the Madhesis of the southern plains, and the absence of law and order in parts of the country.
President and Prime Minister Now in Place
Ram Baran Yadav was sworn into the largely ceremonial role of President (arguably created to replace the role once held by the deposed king) in July, but the election to the post of Prime Minister is seen as much more important, due to the powers that go with the office.
"Prachanda" (real name Pushpa Kamal Dahal) comfortably won the prime ministerial election, with 464 of 577 votes and easily defeated his closest rival Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congres who received only 113 votes, reports nepalnews.com.
"I am very happy and emotional" Prachanda told AFP, while his second in command, Dr Baburam Bhattarai said "today is a day of pride and it will be written with golden letters in the history of our nation"
"The Fierce"
Originally an agricultural science teacher, Prachanda (The Fierce) became one of the most wanted men in South Asia during the Maoist Party's "people's war". An estimated thirteen thousand people were killed during the ten-year insurgency, and the problem of integrating the soldiers of the Maoist People's Army into the Nepali Army is a problem that still plagues the government today.
The Interim Government
The Maoists currently form an alliance with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, a party campaigning for the people of the southern plains bordering India.
A complete understanding has not yet been reached between the three parties, and the Constituent Assembly remains suspended.
Work to Do
Holding together the various warring parties in Parliament will be one thing; bringing law and order back to the whole country is quite another. Frequent power black-outs (despite Nepal possessing enormous hydro power resources), an extremely shaky supply of oil and other fuels from India, and conflict between armed groups in the south are still affecting the day-to-day lives of millions of Nepalis.
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