Madhav Kumar Nepal Takes Office as Prime Minister of Nepal

Where: Kathmandu, Nepal

May 30, 2009 : Mr.Madhav Kumar Nepal took office as Prime Minister of Nepal on Monday. Earlier this month the Maoist-led government of Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal (“Prachanda”) had collapsed. “Prachanda” had led the Maoist movement to establish a republic and abolish monarchy. The Shah kings had been the rulers of Nepal since 1768. The rebellion lasted 10 years and ended in the year 2006. Around 14,000 people died in the conflict. In 2008, the monarch, King Gyanendra, stepped down, and Prachanda became the Prime Minister. After eight months in office, he resigned because the country’s President refused to back his decision to sack the army chief.

Mr.Madhav Kumar Nepal, 56, is the senior leader of the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), one of the country’s oldest parties. He was the lone candidate for the post of Prime Minister, and he had the support of an alliance of 22 parties. The Maoists called the selection process “a farce” and did not support his candidature. Mr. Nepal however urged the Maoists to join the government. He said they had a historic responsibility to the nation.

Mr. Nepal is the head of the Constitutional Committee that has to frame and present a new constitution by the year 2010. On Friday, May 29, 2009, Nepal celebrated its first Republic Day.

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Filed under: world news
Tags: #nepal, #prime minister

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