KATHMANDU —Nepal’s president on Sunday called on the country’s political parties to try to form a new government within a week after last month’s inconclusive national election.
The ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s Nepali Congress party and the main opposition Nepal Communist Unified Marxist-Leninist Party, needs the support of smaller groups to form a new government.
Nepal, a country of 30 million people that is squeezed between China and India, has seen ten government changes since the abolition of the 239-year-old monarchy in 2008.
Political instability has stifled economic growth and scared off investors.
The ruling coalition won 136 seats in the election, two short of the required majority of 138 in the 275-member House of Representatives. UML and its allies won 92 seats.
A statement from the office of President Bidya Devi Bhandari said: “Any member of the House of Representatives who can secure a majority of two or more parties by 5 pm”. To be appointed as Prime Minister. Claim must be submitted. (11.15 am GMT) on 25 December.
“We will discuss with the (ruling) coalition and other political parties about the formation of a new government under our leadership,” Nepali Congress Party spokesman Prakash Sharan Mahat told Reuters.
He said that 76-year-old Deuba is the frontrunner to become the Prime Minister for the sixth time. (Reporting by Gopal Sharma. Editing by Jane Merriman)
Nepal president grants one-week time to parties for forming new government
