Sushila Karki Appointed as PM of Nepal
Nepal officially has a new prime minister after a wave of massive demonstrations swept the country over the past two weeks. Sushila Karki, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was sworn in as Prime Minister (PM) replacing Sharma Oli, who resigned due to public pressure.
Karki’s inauguration took place on Friday (September 12, 2025) at the presidential palace. President Ram Chandra Paudel immediately administered the oath of office and offered congratulations. “Congratulations! We pray for your success, we pray for the success of this country,” Paudel said, as quoted by AFP.
Karki, now 73 years old, appeared simple in a red sari. She simply smiled, bowed her head, and offered a traditional greeting without delivering a speech after her inauguration.
Selected Through Discord
Interestingly, Karki’s appointment was not solely through formal political channels, but also the result of the consolidation of thousands of activists who coordinated through the Discord app. This platform, initially popular among gamers, has now transformed into a political discussion space for Nepalese society, especially the younger generation (Gen Z).
For two full days, intensive negotiations took place between Army Commander General Ashok Raj Sigdel, President Paudel, and representatives of young activists. An agreement was finally reached on Karki as a compromise figure considered clean and virtuous.
Background of the Demonstrations
This massive wave of protests was triggered by the Nepalese government’s policy of blocking 26 popular social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X. The government argued that these companies were not complying with new regulations.
This policy further inflamed public anger, which had long been frustrated by corruption, economic inequality, and high unemployment. The situation escalated after police responded to the protests with violence, using tear gas, rubber bullets, and even live ammunition, turning the demonstrations into riots.
Now, with the inauguration of Sushila Karki as the new prime minister, the public has high hopes for a change in Nepal’s political direction.
