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🇳🇵 Nepal /Elections & Politics

Upper house parties mull rejecting key ordinances

From Kathmandu Post · (10m ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Opposition parties in Nepal's National Assembly are strategizing to reject several government-issued ordinances.
  • The ordinances, including those concerning the Constitutional Council and public official removal, were introduced after a sudden prorogation of Parliament.
  • The ruling coalition lacks a majority in the National Assembly, making the opposition's unity crucial to blocking the ordinances.

The political maneuvering in Nepal's National Assembly is reaching a critical juncture as opposition parties prepare to challenge the government's recent ordinances. Issued after an abrupt suspension of parliamentary proceedings, these ordinances are now facing intense scrutiny. The government's move to bypass the legislature through such decrees has drawn sharp criticism, particularly concerning the ordinances related to the Constitutional Council and the removal of public officials, which are seen as potentially undermining democratic processes.

Under the National Assembly Regulations, 2018, lawmakers can register a notice to reject an ordinance within two days of it being tabled.

— Article 114(2)(a) of the ConstitutionExplaining the constitutional provision for rejecting ordinances.

While the ruling coalition commands a comfortable majority in the House of Representatives, the dynamics shift dramatically in the upper house. The National Assembly, with its opposition-dominated composition, presents a significant hurdle for the government's legislative agenda. The Nepali Congress, the CPN (Maoist Centre), and the CPN-UML collectively hold enough seats to derail the ordinances, provided they maintain a united front. This strategic positioning highlights the checks and balances inherent in Nepal's parliamentary system, where the upper house can act as a crucial bulwark against executive overreach.

While the ruling coalition holds a comfortable majority in the House of Representatives, it lacks the numbers in the National Assembly.

— Article 114(2)(a) of the ConstitutionHighlighting the differing party strengths in Nepal's two parliamentary houses.

As reported by The Kathmandu Post, the legislative rules provide a clear pathway for rejecting ordinances, requiring lawmakers to register their objections and proceed to a vote. The government's reliance on ordinances, especially after proroguing Parliament, raises questions about its commitment to robust legislative debate and consensus-building. For Nepali political observers, the upcoming National Assembly session will be a key test of inter-party cooperation and the strength of parliamentary oversight in the country. The outcome will not only determine the fate of these specific ordinances but also signal the broader political climate and the government's ability to navigate legislative challenges.

Constitutional experts and senior advocates said the government cannot bypass the National Assembly on ordinances, unlike ordinary bills, which can become law even without the upper ho

— Constitutional Experts and Senior AdvocatesCommenting on the National Assembly's power over ordinances.
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Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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