Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on Sunday recommended the dissolution of the parliament following pressure from critics in the ruling Nepal Communist Party over a controversial ordinance. Reports said that the recommendation to dissolve parliament was cleared during an emergency cabinet meeting.
“Today’s cabinet meeting decided to recommend the President to dissolve the parliament,” said Barshaman Pun, Nepal’s energy minister announced in Kathmandu after the meeting.
Oli is also expected to split the Nepal Communist Party after dissolving parliament. He had been under pressure from his detractors since he issued the ordinance to amend the Constitutional Council Act on December 15. The ordinance allegedly undermined the principle of checks and balances, and also gave himself power to make crucial appointments.
“PM Oli was under pressure to withdraw an ordinance related to the Constitutional Council Act that he had issued on Tuesday and got endorsed by President Bidya Devi Bhandari the same day,” The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.
In an attempt to get his rivals to back down, Oli had met President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Saturday at her official residence ‘Shital Niwas’. Reports said that the prime minister was advised against the move, but he had already taken the decision.
Oli will continue to head the interim government after the parliament is dissolved.