Nepal’s parliament yesterday chose communist leader Khadga Prasad Oli as prime minister, tasking him with unifying the earthquake-hit country after a new constitution triggered deadly protests, a border blockade and a nationwide fuel shortage.
Oli, of the Communist Party of Nepal, won 338 votes compared with 249 for former Nepalese prime minister Sushil Koirala, who stepped down from the top job as required by the constitution adopted on Sept. 20.
“I announce that respected member K.P. Sharma Oli has been elected to the post of Nepal’s prime minister,” Nepalese Constituent Assembly Chairman Subash Chandra Nembang told parliament to loud cheers and applause, as lawmakers raced to congratulate Oli.
Oli is tasked with quelling protests over the new constitution and ending a blockade that has led to national fuel rationing, as well as pushing ahead with reconstruction after an earthquake in April that killed thousands.
He is known as a moderate within his party, despite its communist leanings, and has vowed to work with other parties to develop the impoverished country.
“My request is that all the parties must work together and move forward in consensus,” Oli told lawmakers in an address before the vote.
“There are groups that are dissatisfied with the constitution, we have to address their demands,” Oli said.
“Our country has been devastated by the earthquake. I will accelerate the reconstruction process,” the 63-year-old said.
The current government is accused of stalling on rebuilding after the earthquake killed nearly 8,900 people and left more than 500,000 homeless.
The constitution is aimed at bolstering the Himalayan country’s transformation to a peaceful democracy after decades of political instability and a civil war.
The main political parties were spurred into agreeing on the charter, after years of bickering, following the earthquake.
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