Following the submission of the election results report to President Ramchandra Paudel, Nepal is set to begin the process of forming a new government.
In the 275-member House of Representatives, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has won a commanding near two-thirds majority with 182 seats: 125 through the first-past-the-post (direct) system and 57 via proportional representation.
Other parties’ seat distribution is as follows:
- Nepali Congress – 38 seats
- Communist Party of Nepal UML – 25 seats
- Communist Party of Nepal – 17 seats
- Labour Culture Party – 7 seats
- Rastriya Prajatantra Party – 5 seats
- 1 independent lawmaker
Constitutional Process for Prime Minister Appointment
Under Article 76(1) of the Constitution of Nepal, the President appoints the leader of the parliamentary party that holds a majority in the House as Prime Minister.
The RSP had nominated senior leader Balen Shah as its prime ministerial candidate. As per the Constitution, the Prime Minister must be a member of the House and the leader of the parliamentary party. RSP is preparing to formally elect Shah as its parliamentary leader.
Since the RSP commands a clear majority on its own, legal experts confirm that Shah will be appointed under Article 76(1), eliminating the need for a coalition government under Article 76(2).
Steps Ahead
- The senior-most member of the House will first take the oath before the President and administer oaths to other MPs.
- Following this, the parliamentary party leader will be selected.
- The President will then appoint the majority party leader as Prime Minister, who will form the Council of Ministers.
Constitutional expert Khimlal Devkota noted that this marks the first time since the Constitution’s promulgation that a single party will form a government under Article 76(1).
Parliamentary Timeline
- The Federal Parliament Secretariat plans to administer the oath of office and secrecy to newly elected MPs on Chaitra 12.
- Informal discussions are underway with six political parties regarding orientation programs and parliamentary party formation.
- The President must convene Parliament within 30 days of the final election results, as per Article 93(1).
- The first parliamentary session will be chaired by the senior-most member, and elections for Speaker and Deputy Speaker will take place within seven days.
- Sessions will be held in the newly constructed Parliament building at Singha Durbar.
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