Nepal schedules third round of elections
The Parliament of Nepal has once again failed to form a government and break the republic’s political deadlock. Leaders of the two largest parties were in the running again after failing to secure a majority in Wednesday’s parliamentary poll.
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Meanwhile the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal, Jhalanath Khanal, had withdrawn.
The two candidates today were Pushpa Kamal Dahal, leader of the former Maoist rebel party, and Ram Chandra Poudel, leader of the centrist Nepali Congress party.
Both failed to win the necessary two-thirds majority once again.
Today’s elections concluded with 241 votes for Pushpa Kamal Dahal and 123 votes for Ram Chandra Paudel. There were 214 abstentions.
A third round of elections is scheduled for Monday 2 August.
The parties will have to reach a compromise before that date in order for a majority government to be formed.
A candidate for the position of Prime Minister needs at least 300 votes to be elected. This therefore requires coalitions to be built. However, none has been materialised so far.
Jhalanath Khanal called on both of the candidates to step down so that new negotiations could begin.
Nepal’s parliament was elected in 2008, and was charged with drafting a new constitution as well as completing the country’s peace process.
But disagreements between the Maoist party and its political rivals has led to political deadlock.
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