Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki emerges as frontrunner for Nepal interim prime minister amid youth-led calls for reform, but constitutional hurdles loom large.
KATHMANDU – Nepal’s former Chief Justice Sushila Karki is likely to be appointed as interim prime minister on Friday, September 12, 2025, following the resignation of K.P. Sharma Oli amid deadly anti-corruption protests led by Gen Z activists, a source close to the negotiations. The appointment, if confirmed, would mark a historic shift in Sushila Karki Nepal interim prime minister 2025 prospects, driven by demands for integrity and neutrality in the Himalayan nation’s governance.
This potential transition underscores a pivotal moment for South Asia, where youth-driven movements against entrenched corruption could inspire similar demands across the region, from Pakistan to India, while testing Nepal’s fragile constitutional framework wedged between global powers India and China.
Protests Spark National Upheaval
The unrest began earlier in September 2025 when the government imposed a ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube, citing concerns over fake news and registration failures under new rules from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. Critics viewed the ban as an attempt to stifle an emerging online anti-corruption campaign, escalating frustrations over nepotism, job scarcity, and political elite lifestyles documented by so-called “nepo kids” on social media.
Protests, organised by the nonprofit Hami Nepal (“We are Nepal”), quickly swelled into widespread demonstrations across Kathmandu and other cities. On Monday, September 8, 2025, clashes between demonstrators and security forces turned violent, with protesters scaling walls to enter the Federal Parliament building, leading to arson at government sites including Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court annexe, the president’s residence at Sital Niwas, and the prime minister’s office at Baluwatar.
Police responded with tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, resulting in at least 51 deaths—including 21 protesters, nine prisoners, three police officers, and 18 others—and over 1,300 injuries, according to police spokesperson Binod Ghimire.
Gen Z’s Role in Ousting Oli
The “Gen Z” label reflects the youth demographic, primarily college students and young professionals aged 18 to 25, who mobilised via apps like Viber and TikTok despite the ban. Lacking formal leadership, the movement demanded an end to corruption, dissolution of the current parliament, and formation of a neutral interim government. According to Gen Z leader Ojaswi, “Right now, we need an interim government, for which we have proposed the name of Sushila Karki… We want to choose her because she would help us build this nation.”
The protests forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, 73, to resign on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in a letter to President Ram Chandra Paudel, stating it was to “facilitate a solution to the problem and help resolve it politically in accordance with the constitution.” Reports indicate Oli and some ministers fled to an army barracks in Shivapuri at Budhanilkantha, though the Nepalese Army denied similar claims about Paudel’s resignation.
Following Oli’s exit, the Nepali Army, under Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, took temporary control of
streets in Kathmandu to restore order, evacuating politicians to Tribhuvan International Airport amid reports of over 12,000 prisoners escaping during the chaos. The social media ban was lifted on Monday night, September 8, 2025, but damage to infrastructure persisted, with schools, colleges, and shops shuttered until Friday.
Sushila Karki’s Profile and Selection
Sushila Karki, 73, Nepal’s first and only female chief justice appointed in 2016, retired after serving until 2019. Born on June 7, 1952, in Biratnagar, she studied political science and law, building a career in advocacy and legal reform.
Known for her honesty, integrity, and staunch anti-corruption stance, Karki faced an impeachment motion in 2017 from the Maoist Centre and Nepali Congress, which was withdrawn amid public pressure and a Supreme Court order. She is married to Durga Prasad Subedi, a former Nepali Congress youth leader.
Her selection as Sushila Karki Nepal interim prime minister 2025 candidate stemmed from a virtual vote among Gen Z organisers, where she garnered over 50% of 7,713 votes in a Discord poll, edging out alternatives like Nepal Electricity Authority head Kulman Ghising and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah.
A constitutional expert consulted by President Paudel and Army Chief Sigdel, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of negotiations, told Reuters, “Sushila Karki will be appointed interim prime minister… They (Gen Z) want her. This will happen today.” A Gen Z source involved in talks confirmed the appointment would follow a rescheduled meeting at Paudel’s residence on Friday afternoon, September 12, 2025.
However, constitutional challenges persist: Nepal’s charter requires a new prime minister from the parliamentary majority party or alliance, complicating Karki’s non-partisan status. Efforts are underway to find a legal route, potentially involving parliament’s dissolution and fresh elections within six months, as demanded by protesters. The president’s office and army spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
Signs of Returning Normalcy
By Friday, September 12, 2025, Kathmandu showed tentative recovery. Shops reopened, cars returned to roads, and police shifted from firearms to batons for patrols, though some routes remained blocked and fewer soldiers were deployed.
Authorities began handing over bodies to families at facilities like Kathmandu’s Teaching Hospital. Karuna Budhathoki, waiting for her 23-year-old nephew’s remains, recounted, “While his friends backed off (from the protests), he decided to go ahead… We were told he was brought dead to the hospital.” Relatives of 24-year-old Ashab Alam Thakurai, married just a month prior, described losing contact during the protests before finding him in the morgue.
The U.S. State Department affirmed its support, stating it remains a “steadfast partner of Nepal, committed to our shared interests in stability, prosperity, and democratic governance.”
Background
Nepal has endured political and economic instability since abolishing its monarchy in 2008, with recurring prime ministerial rotations among figures like Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal—12 terms among three leaders in the past decade. Youth unemployment drives millions abroad for work in the Middle East, South Korea, and Malaysia, fuelling remittances but exacerbating domestic discontent. The Gen Z protests, organised by Hami Nepal with prior approval from the Kathmandu District Administration Office, highlight broader issues of opacity in public spending and elite extravagance despite modest official salaries.
What’s Next for Sushila Karki Nepal Interim Prime Minister 2025
If appointed, Karki’s caretaker administration would prioritise stabilising law and order, forming an anti-corruption commission, and planning elections within six months, potentially including youth in governance. Risks include constitutional gridlock, elite resistance, and youth disillusionment if reforms falter.
According to the Gen Z group, as per India TV News, general elections would allow “the people, especially the youth of Nepal, to elect a new Prime Minister of their choice.” This Sushila Karki Nepal interim prime minister 2025 role could redefine transparency, but success hinges on swift civilian restoration and inclusive dialogue to prevent further unrest.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, September 12th, 2025
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