As children smile and enjoy chocolate on the eve of International Chocolate Day, Nepal is reeling from bloody political unrest. On Tuesday (September 9, 2025), angry people set fire to the parliament, the Supreme Court, the residences of political leaders and the offices of the media during protests over the release of prisoners. It was not just immediate anger behind this – the death of 19 young protesters in a police crackdown the previous day seemed to be the catalyst for this explosion. The violence following the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Oli has pushed Nepal’s hard-won democracy into a deep crisis.
The “Generation Z protests” actually began in the despair of a long political stalemate. The 2005 mass movement had freed Nepal from an absolute monarchy and ushered in a new democratic era. But in less than two decades, political institutions have become the cause of governance and instability. Since the 1990s, 13 prime ministers have been in power for more than 30 terms, creating cyclical instability rather than stability.
The Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML, and the CPN-Maoist Centre have repeatedly prioritized unethical alliances over the people’s mandate. Leaders like K.P. Oli or Sher Bahadur Deuba have shown little interest in the democratic process after the mass movement, while Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal has focused on clinging to power. The result is a dire economy dependent on remittances, unemployment is rising, young people are leaving the country, and the United Nations still classifies Nepal as a “least developed country.”
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Amidst this failure, a new generation is finding their place of trust in alternative forces. The rise of independent candidates like the Rashtriya Swadhin Party or Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah is proof of that. But there are also concerns among the new voices, such as the demand for the direct dissolution of parliament before elections, instead of a caretaker government, which reveals a lack of democratic maturity or a tendency to ignore democratic principles. The recent unrest in Bangladesh is also a warning for Nepal, where democratic backsliding has had dire consequences.
The biggest challenge facing Nepal today is not to allow violent anarchy to take place under the guise of democratic renewal. The solution to the crisis can be found in stability and long-term constitutional reform, where the promises made during the Constituent Assembly process must be implemented.
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A directly elected presidency and accountability to parliament may help break the cycle of instability. But before that, it is necessary to establish peace and restore control of civilian democratic forces. If necessary, the Nepali army must step in and help shape a framework for reform.
Otherwise, if violence and nihilism prevail in the name of democracy, the dream of a “new Nepal” is likely to collapse once again.
Hi readers. I’m Piyali Batabyal, a passionate blogger who loves to share her thoughts, ideas, and experiences across a variety of topics—from lifestyle and beauty to personal growth and creativity. With a curious mind and a love for words.
Alongside my writing, I am also a professional makeup artist with a flair for enhancing natural beauty and creating transformative looks.