Nepal is set to have its youngest-ever Prime Minister, 35-year-old Balendra Shah.
The result follows the country’s first elections since Gen Z-led protests last year.
More than 70 people were killed during the protests, which were spurred by a social media ban and corruption allegations.
Shah’s party has won a large majority of seats, with the former rapper unseating former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Gen Z protests
A viral TikTok trend last year saw young Nepalis criticise corruption by highlighting government ministers’ “nepo kids” seemingly living in luxury. In contrast, Nepal’s per capita income is just over $AU2,000 a year.
Soon after the trend took off, Nepali officials blocked multiple social media sites, claiming they had failed to register with the country’s communications body by a set deadline.
The Government said the registration was intended to manage hate speech, fake news and online fraud, while critics called it a censorship attempt.
In September, a group called ‘Hami Nepal’ (We Nepal) organised a protest in the capital, Kathmandu.
The protest, held on 8 September, was aimed at overturning the social media ban and opposing corruption, considered a significant problem in Nepal.
According to multiple reports and eyewitness accounts, police used water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets, and live rounds on protesters.
The death toll from that protest and the subsequent nation-wide unrest is at least 76 people, both protesters and police.
Interim PM
Then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, from the Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist–Leninist (CPN UML), resigned on 9 September, citing the “adverse situation”.
A poll held on a Discord server run by Hami Nepal selected a former Supreme Court judge, Sushila Karki, as interim Prime Minister.
Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.
I want to give $10 monthly to help TDA keep doing the news.
Your details:
Karki was sworn in on 12September. She is the first woman to lead Nepal.
Upon her swearing in, Karki said she was “not here to taste power,” vowing to “only stay here for six months”.
Balen Shah
Balendra (Balen) Shah rose to prominence in the early 2010s Nepalese hip-hop (Nep-hop) scene.
Shah’s song lyrics often centred around his experiences of corruption and poverty in Nepal.
Shah went on to be Kathmandu’s first independent mayor, elected in 2022.
Many Nepali people resonated with his music, particularly during and after the Gen Z-led protests, boosting Shah’s popularity.
Election result
On 5 March, the country held its first elections since the uprisings.
The Nepal Election Commission reports Shah’s party, the National Independent Party, has won more than 180 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives.
The National Independent Party did not exist at the last election in 2022.
Shah is the National Independent Party’s prime ministerial candidate at this election.
The newcomer ran against former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, winning almost 70% of the vote, while Oli received around 18% in his once-safe seat in eastern Nepal.
In a post to X, Oli said:“Congratulations to you [Shah] for the victory! May your five-year tenure be smooth and successful — heartfelt best wishes!”
In securing this win, Shah will likely be the next Nepali Prime Minister, which would make him the youngest in history.
