Sushila Karki Sworn in as Nepal’s First Woman

A Justice Sworn into Crisis: Sushila Karki Becomes Nepal’s First Woman Prime Minister

On September 13, 2025, Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first female Chief Justice, was sworn in as the country’s first woman Prime Minister amid extraordinary political upheaval. This singular event came just days after President Ram Chandra Poudel dissolved Parliament and scheduled fresh elections for March 5, 2026. Karki, known for her unflinching stance against corruption, now heads an interim government tasked with placating nationwide Gen Z-led protests and restoring democratic order. The irony here is stark: a judiciary stalwart, once removed from executive politics, now finds herself presiding over the very system she once scrutinized.

Breaking the Mold of Nepal’s Political Tradition

This appointment marks Nepal’s first female head of government in a largely patriarchal political landscape. Since Nepal embraced democracy in 1990, its leadership has been dominated by a narrow club of male politicians, who have often failed to deliver political stability. Chief Justice Karki’s selection breaks from this mold, not through conventional electoral pathways, but as a response to a governance vacuum created by K.P. Sharma Oli’s ouster.

This female-led interim government sends a strong signal not only to Nepal’s entrenched political classes but also to South Asia, where female political representation remains uneven. As of 2023, women held just 13.7% of Nepal’s Parliamentary seats—well below Bangladesh’s 21% and Mexico’s 50%. It is too early to tell whether Karki’s appointment will catalyze longer-term structural changes, but its symbolic potency is undeniable.

The Machinery of an Interim Regime

Sushila Karki’s elevation was no straightforward process. It required a deliberate departure from Nepal’s constitutional framework, which lacks explicit provisions for appointing interim political leaders outside Parliament. President Poudel, after prolonged consultations with senior judges, political leaders, and even the Army—a powerful but unofficial actor—made the call under the premise of “extraordinary circumstances.” While this move bypassed Parliament, it utilized Article 66 of Nepal’s Constitution, which allows the President discretionary powers during national emergencies.

The appointment reflects Nepal’s long-standing reliance on ad hoc mechanisms to resolve crises. Karki’s Cabinet has been handed three explicit mandates: restoring order after months of violent protests, initiating impartial investigations into allegations of corruption and police brutality, and overseeing free and fair elections in March 2026. Managing these tasks within a limited timeline and under constant public scrutiny will severely test the new government’s capacity.

Promises vs. Ground Realities

The protestors who demanded K.P. Sharma Oli’s ouster expect sweeping reforms, not ones confined to transitional governance. While Karki has publicly committed to pursuing accountability, Nepal’s weak institutional mechanisms pose significant challenges. The Office of the Auditor General and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority—a body Karki had championed as Chief Justice—currently lack adequate personnel and funding to conduct large-scale inquiries.

The numbers underscore the depth of the problem. Nepal’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) rank stood alarmingly low at 117 out of 180 countries in 2023, below neighboring Bhutan (25) and India (85). Judicial integrity alone cannot compensate for compromised investigative agencies suffering from years of neglect and politicization. Token gestures, such as suspending low-level officials, will not suffice.

Nepal’s neighboring India, facing its own localized anti-corruption challenges, offers a telling comparison. India’s Lokpal institution, though established in 2019, struggles with similar staffing issues, but its annual budget allocation of ₹50 crore is nearly 10 times what Nepal devotes to its anti-corruption agencies. The contrast highlights deep fiscal constraints in Nepal’s governance model.

Unanswered Questions Loom Large

Skepticism about the viability of Karki’s interim government is unavoidable. For one, can an interim Cabinet devoid of electoral legitimacy be expected to address grievances spanning unemployment, ethnic marginalization, and internet censorship? The Gen Z-driven protests have exposed young Nepalese as a politically volatile force, galvanized by issues that neither governance institutions nor traditional political parties are equipped to resolve.

Moreover, the interim government’s coordination with Nepal’s Army raises uncomfortable questions about democratic safeguards. Historically, the Army has leveraged political instability to expand its influence. Will recent military involvement in political consultations imprint a precedent of undue influence? With Nepal’s history of political coups, this possibility is far from hypothetical.

Finally, the timing itself raises eyebrows. By scheduling elections just six months away, critics warn of an overly tight timeline. Organizing elections that satisfy international electoral standards—especially in Nepal’s geographically challenging terrain—requires significant logistical preparation, including updated voter rolls and access to remote constituencies. An expedited process risks disenfranchisement.

South Korea's Lesson on Interim Leadership

Nepal’s crisis bears an intriguing parallel to South Korea’s 2017 Presidential impeachment crisis. Following President Park Geun-hye’s removal due to corruption charges, South Korea appointed Hwang Kyo-ahn as Acting President. Hwang’s tenure, though brief, facilitated transparent elections, bolstered by strong oversight from the National Election Commission.

Yet, South Korea achieved this within the framework of existing constitutional provisions, unlike Nepal’s reliance on discretionary executive powers. Perhaps more importantly, South Korea’s robust institutions—its independent judiciary and well-resourced anti-corruption agencies—played a pivotal role that Nepal conspicuously lacks. The comparison underscores the structural constraints Karki faces in delivering on her lofty promises within similar timeframes.

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