Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as “Prachanda”, secured a vote of confidence in parliament on Monday amidst opposition protests calling for an investigation into allegations against his home minister.
The opposition Nepali Congress demanded a parliamentary probe into claims that Deputy Prime Minister Rabi Lamichhane illegally accepted money from various cooperative companies before entering politics. Lamichhane, a former television show presenter, has denied the accusations.
Dahal, a former Maoist rebel leader, formed a coalition government in March with the support of the Communist Unified Marxist-Leninist party and other smaller parties. However, a junior partner in the coalition recently withdrew support, prompting the need for a confidence vote.
In Monday’s parliamentary vote, Dahal received 157 votes, surpassing the minimum requirement of 138 in the 275-member parliament. Despite the opposition’s absence from the vote, Parliament Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire declared the motion of confidence passed.
This victory marks Dahal’s third term as prime minister, with his previous stints cut short before completing a full five-year term. Since abolishing the monarchy in 2008, Nepal has seen 13 different governments as it navigates the challenges of governance in a republic.
The ongoing political turmoil and allegations of corruption highlight the complexities facing Nepal’s leadership as they strive to address the needs of the country’s citizens and maintain stability in the region.