Nepal’s political landscape is famous for being a revolving door. Honestly, if you blinked over the last few months, you probably missed a massive shift. Right now, the person sitting in the Prime Minister's chair isn't a career politician from the usual dominant parties.
Sushila Karki is currently the interim Prime Minister of Nepal.
She isn't just a placeholder; she's a historic figure. Karki is the first woman to ever lead the country as PM, and she also happens to be a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. This isn't some standard political appointment. It’s the result of a chaotic, Gen Z-led uprising that basically shook the foundations of Kathmandu in late 2025.
How we got here (The short version)
Politics in Nepal is rarely "simple." Just a few months ago, KP Sharma Oli was holding the reins for the fourth time. But by September 2025, the mood on the streets turned sour. It started with a government ban on popular social media platforms—classic mistake—and spiraled into massive anti-corruption protests.
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Young people, often dubbed the "Gen Z" protesters, had enough of the same old faces. They didn't just want a new leader; they wanted a whole new system. Following intense clashes and the burning of several high-profile political residences, including Oli’s home in Balkot, the government collapsed.
Oli resigned on September 9, 2025.
Enter Sushila Karki. She was sworn in on September 12, 2025. Her mandate is narrow but incredibly high-stakes: stabilize the country and lead it toward the general elections scheduled for March 5, 2026.
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Who is PM of Nepal exactly?
Sushila Karki is a name that commands a lot of respect, even from her critics. Born in 1952 in Morang, she has spent her life navigating the male-dominated corridors of the Nepali legal system. When she became the first female Chief Justice in 2016, she earned a reputation for being fiercely independent.
She doesn't play the usual "power-sharing" games that have defined Nepali politics for decades. That’s exactly why the protesters demanded her. They wanted someone who wasn't tied to the corruption scandals that have plagued the major parties like the CPN-UML or the Nepali Congress.
The constitutional "oops"
Interestingly, Karki’s appointment actually stirred up a legal hornets' nest. Article 132(2) of the Nepal Constitution technically says a former Chief Justice shouldn't be eligible for government office. But in a country facing a total breakdown of order, the President, Ram Chandra Poudel, used emergency provisions to make it happen.
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It was a "break glass in case of emergency" moment.
What to expect next
Right now, Nepal is in a state of "controlled waiting." While Karki runs the day-to-day, the old guards are already regrouping for the March 2026 vote. KP Sharma Oli was recently re-elected as the chair of his party, the CPN-UML, despite being ousted. Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has actually split into factions, with younger leaders like Gagan Thapa trying to seize the mantle of change.
The upcoming election is going to be a wild ride. Over 114 political parties have registered. That's a staggering number. We're seeing new alliances popping up, like the one between Rabi Lamichhane and the popular Kathmandu Mayor, Balen Shah.
Actionable insights for following Nepal’s transition:
- Watch the March 5, 2026 date. This is the big one. If the elections happen smoothly, it could signal a new era of stability.
- Monitor the new parties. Don't just look at the Maoists or the Congress. The "Gen Z" influence is real, and they might actually win enough seats to be kingmakers.
- Track the economy. The IMF is currently watching Nepal’s foreign exchange reserves, which are sitting at a healthy $20 billion, but domestic investor confidence is still shaky.
- Follow the independent media. Because the government previously tried to curb social media, keeping an eye on outlets like The Kathmandu Post or Online Khabar is your best bet for unfiltered news.
Basically, Sushila Karki is the "calm before the storm." She’s holding the fort while the country decides whether it wants to return to the old ways or dive headfirst into something entirely new.
Ensure you're looking at the most recent updates as March approaches. The "Who is PM of Nepal" question will have a very different answer once the 2026 ballots are counted. For now, the focus remains on whether Karki can deliver a fair, transparent election in a landscape that's historically anything but.