In the berating of CIAA officials, another example of executive excess

Prime Minister Balendra Shah's tenure, which began on March 27, has been characterized by a series of actions perceived as executive overreach. These incidents have raised concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the autonomy of state institutions, even as some segments of the public appear pleased with the government's assertive approach.

Recent events highlight this pattern. Advisors to the Prime Minister summoned officials from the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Nepal's constitutional anti-graft body. They reportedly pressured the CIAA regarding a delay in investigating anomalies in the procurement process for passport booklets. On the same day, German ambassador Udo Volz was made to wait for three hours before being berated by Shah's advisors for visiting without an appointment.

These actions follow earlier controversial moves, including the arrest of opposition leaders without due process and the forced removal of riverside squatters without a clear resettlement plan. While Prime Minister Shah has been criticized for rarely attending parliament and violating its norms when he does, his supporters often point to his decisive actions in speeding up service delivery and combating corruption.

Critics, however, warn that this populist path is dangerous. Instead of empowering independent bodies like the CIAA and Nepal Police, the executive is exerting pressure on them to comply with its directives. The article argues that the Prime Minister's Office has no right to demand clarifications on ongoing investigations from the CIAA, which is answerable only to parliament. This practice, it contends, destroys the crucial system of checks and balances essential for democracy.

Despite the concerns, many Nepalis seem to appreciate the prime minister's firm stance. However, the article stresses that officials of autonomous state institutions must maintain their independence and decline undue pressure. The author calls on the prime minister and his advisors to recognize that accountability starts with them, warning that intimidating state institutions in the name of efficiency risks reviving the self-serving political culture the ruling party once opposed.