In Nepal, the accumulated filth in politics could not even be swept away by the Gen-Z movement. Ghosts that had lain dormant for some time have risen again from the graveyards, attempting to terrorize society. The dreams the youth had envisioned after the movement were shattered by a third party. As a result, the country has become like a rudderless boat. Politics has been reduced to a mere tool for fulfilling personal interests.
In reality, politics should be practiced for the benefit of groups and the nation, not individuals. Creating policies and implementing them to meet the minimum needs of citizens is true public service. However, misuse of power under the guise of serving the public has caused extreme frustration among the people. The commercialization of politics has led to widespread corruption, and there is little doubt that this is why the current state of affairs exists. Politics and democracy have become instruments of business, profit, and money, rather than service or ideology.
From ticket distribution during elections to large contracts or minor bureaucratic dealings, commissions and financial interests have become institutionalized. Politics has transformed into a business where “ours” are prioritized over “better” candidates. When wealth dictates power, the lower classes sink further. Terms like “Cryptocracy Nexus” and “Nepo Babies” have already emerged in public discourse.
Corruption in politics involves the misuse of public office, policies, and resources for personal, group, or party gain. This obstructs democracy, good governance, and development. When corruption thrives, citizens lose faith in political parties. Democracy weakens, meritocracy disappears, resources are unfairly distributed, and people are compelled to take to the streets. Political deals in contracts, ticket trading within parties, and even buying parliamentary positions in exchange for money have eroded accountability, eventually sparking the Gen-Z movement.
It is even more tragic that substantive improvement has not followed the movement. The country remains unstable. Political parties have failed, raising the question in every citizen’s mind: who will lead this nation? There is a growing perception that someone must take responsibility for saving the country. In this context, former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s remarks are gaining attention. She noted that political parties have failed to stabilize the country and suggested that the monarchy’s role could be necessary to utilize its power to rescue the nation. This idea is not considered entirely unnatural by the public.
Recent events underscore the need for citizens to exercise discretion to save the country. Nepotism in politics has increased, with state power and structures dominated by families and dynasties. Leadership, positions, and decision-making are increasingly controlled by family members and close associates. Prioritizing family successors over capable individuals, and making party decisions around familial interests, exemplifies political nepotism, generating extreme resentment among capable leaders, workers, and citizens. These factors led to the eruption of the Gen-Z movement.
Moreover, the criminalization of politics and the politicization of crime have also gained significant traction. Individuals previously unseen in the Gen-Z movement surfaced as key players once the movement succeeded. Crimes such as unresolved murders and granting amnesty to perpetrators of heinous acts reveal the politicization of crime. Sacrificing justice to fulfill political interests is no longer new. Such systemic failures have angered society, prompting citizens to seek change.
Even with the fall of old power structures and the rise of new ones, the country’s problems remain unresolved. Some Gen-Z factions have returned to protest at places like Maiti Ghar, demanding the resignation of the current government. In the context of a recently changed government, such hopes are not unreasonable. However, the country can no longer withstand repeated movements and bloodshed. Nepal’s economy is weak, and past disasters and crises—like earthquakes, COVID-19, and armed conflict—have left the nation physically and mentally fragile.
Today, what Nepal urgently needs is permanent peace and stability. This requires strong national unity and an inclusive government. Even within the current constitution and system, reforms and improvements are necessary. The pressing question remains: who can guide the country out of perpetual instability and unrest—political parties, the monarchy, or alternative powers?
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