Taskforce floats directly elected president, overseas voting in constitutional reform push

Nepal's government taskforce is exploring major constitutional changes, floating ideas like a directly elected president and allowing citizens living abroad to vote. These proposals are part of a broader discussion paper on constitutional amendments, aiming to tackle the nation's persistent political instability and frequent government overhauls.

The taskforce, coordinated by Prime Minister Balendra Shah's advisor Asim Shah, has compiled 54 potential agendas across seven categories, including governance, electoral systems, federalism, and the judiciary. These are not final recommendations but discussion points to gather feedback from political parties, legal experts, and the public.

Among the most debated ideas is a shift from the current parliamentary system to a directly elected executive president. This proposal surfaces amid widespread frustration with political flux, with supporters believing it could bring stability and stronger leadership, while critics fear it might weaken parliamentary oversight and concentrate power.

Electoral reform is another significant focus. The taskforce is considering changes to the existing mixed electoral system, including discussions on a fully proportional representation model. The panel is also debating whether cabinet ministers should be chosen from elected lawmakers or from subject matter experts, a departure from the current system where ministers are typically lawmakers but can include non-lawmakers for a limited period.

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These are agendas prepared for discussion. The purpose is to collect suggestions from different sectors and build a broader consensus.