Staff Correspondent
Kathmandu witnessed a historic moment on Friday night as former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as the interim Prime Minister, becoming Nepal’s first woman to hold the country’s highest political office. President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath at the presidential palace at 9 p.m. local time.
At 73, Karki is no stranger to history-making. In 2016, she became Nepal’s first female Chief Justice, a tenure remembered for her uncompromising stance against corruption, judicial integrity, and fearless confrontation with those in power. From sending sitting ministers to jail to challenging the executive, she earned a reputation as a figure of integrity and resilience.
Her appointment comes amid political turmoil triggered by the resignation of Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli on Tuesday. Oli stepped down after massive protests, largely driven by Nepal’s Generation Z, erupted when the government shut down 26 social media platforms. The demonstrations quickly broadened into an anti-corruption movement, spiraling into violence that left at least 51 dead. Despite the army’s intervention, unrest persisted.
In a bid to resolve the crisis, President Paudel, Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, and protest leaders reached consensus on Karki’s leadership. The president’s office later confirmed that as interim prime minister, she will dissolve the current parliament, oversee the formation of a nonpartisan caretaker government, and guide the nation toward fresh elections scheduled for March 5, 2026.
Having already carved her name into Nepal’s history books twice—first as its inaugural female Chief Justice and now as its first female Prime Minister—Karki faces her toughest challenge yet: steering a fractured and restless nation toward stability and delivering credible, peaceful elections.