Nepal President Issues Message Amid Talks with Gen Z to Select Interim PM

Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel has issued an appeal for calm and patience as discussions intensify to select an interim prime minister following the resignation of KP Sharma Oli amid violent protests led by students and Gen-Z groups.

In a letter dated September 11, written in Nepali and seen by HT, President Paudel stated: "I am deliberating and making every effort to find a way out of the current difficult situation in the country within the constitutional framework and to protect democracy."

The appeal came as the President and Nepal Army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel pressed Gen-Z leaders to finalise a candidate for interim leadership. "The onus is on them (Gen-Z representatives), so they can't blame the President and army later," a person familiar with the talks said.

Meetings were underway on Thursday among Gen-Z representatives, the President, and the army chief, with several names still being discussed. Dozens of young people gathered outside army headquarters in Kathmandu awaiting the outcome. A similar meeting on Wednesday had ended without consensus despite reports that former chief justice Sushila Karki and former Nepal Electricity Authority chief Kulman Ghising were under serious consideration. Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah is also among the frontrunners.

President Paudel's letter further noted: "I appeal to all parties to be confident that a solution to the problem is being sought as soon as possible to address the demands of the agitating citizens."

An army spokesperson confirmed ongoing consultations but declined to name any potential candidates. "We are holding rounds of talks with different stakeholders. The talks are mainly focused on finding a way out from the current stalemate and at the same time maintaining law and order situation in the country," he said.

The interim prime minister, once selected, will be tasked with overseeing governance until fresh elections are held within a specified timeframe.

Meanwhile, in parts of Kathmandu, small groups of students aligned with major political parties staged demonstrations, urging that the Constitution be preserved and democracy safeguarded during the transition.