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Nepal’s First Female Chief Justice Becomes Interim PM After Gen Z-Led Uprising
Nepal in Turmoil: How Gen Z Protesters Pushed Sushila Karki to Power
Nepal, a country known for its majestic Himalayan peaks and rich cultural heritage, has just experienced one of the most dramatic political shake-ups in its modern history. After weeks of massive protests that turned deadly, the nation now has a new face at the helm: Sushila Karki, former Chief Justice and Nepal’s first-ever female prime minister, albeit in an interim role.
What makes this moment truly remarkable isn’t just the political upheaval, but the unlikely way Karki came to power. In a nation rocked by frustration, corruption scandals, and youth unemployment, it was Gen Z activists who led the charge for change, taking their fight from social media hashtags to the streets.
ALSO READ: Nepal in Flames: Gen Z Protests Force Prime Minister Oli to Resign
It all began with a wave of discontent online. Young Nepalis were fed up watching politicians’ children flaunt luxury vacations, designer handbags, and exclusive lifestyles while ordinary citizens struggled with rising unemployment and shrinking opportunities. What started as a digital protest against the so-called “Nepo Kids”, privileged children of Nepal’s political elite, soon snowballed into one of the largest youth uprisings in decades. Social media became a battlefield, and when the government responded by banning over two dozen platforms, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, the protests spilled violently into the streets.
By early September, the demonstrations had escalated to the point where protesters set fire to parliament and the Supreme Court, symbols of a system many believed had failed them. The unrest claimed at least 51 lives and left more than 1,700 people injured, according to Nepal’s Ministry of Health. Faced with unrelenting pressure and chaos, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli was forced to resign. For many young Nepalis, that was exactly what the moment demanded. As one protester put it:
“We want someone who has integrity and is not a political opportunist. She fits that category for us.”
Nepal’s Turbulent Road Ahead
The appointment of Karki as interim prime minister has already triggered seismic changes. President Ram Chandra Paudel, acting on her recommendation, dissolved parliament and announced fresh elections scheduled for March 5, 2026.
While the decision was welcomed by India, Nepal’s largest neighbor and close ally, with hopes of peace and stability, the road ahead is anything but smooth. The protests revealed deep frustrations: a generation of young people tired of corruption, nepotism, and the sense that opportunities are reserved for a privileged few. Experts warn that unless structural reforms follow, the unrest could reignite. As public policy analyst Binay Mishra observed, Karki has recently been more outspoken about the politicization of Nepal’s judiciary and the partiality in judicial appointments — a message that resonates strongly with today’s disillusioned youth.
For many Nepalis, especially the younger generation, Sushila Karki’s rise is more than a political maneuver — it’s a symbol of hope. She carries the weight of being the first female prime minister in Nepal’s history, a milestone that young women in particular see as groundbreaking. Law student Anjali Sah, one of the protest leaders, summed it up powerfully:
“She has shown she has a spine. She is the first female justice of Nepal and we are hoping that a woman leading this country will help set things in order and reduce corruption.” But hope and symbolism can only go so far. With more than 30 million people looking to her for stability, Sushila Karki’s real challenge will be delivering tangible results: restoring trust in government, reducing youth unemployment, and bridging the massive gap between the elite and ordinary citizens.
Nepal’s political turmoil is a stark reminder of the power of people, and particularly the younger generation, to reshape their nation’s destiny. What started as frustration over Instagram posts has turned into a national revolution that toppled a prime minister and elevated a retired jurist to the country’s highest office. For now, Nepal stands at a crossroads. The world is watching to see whether Sushila Karki, the incorruptible former judge, can steer the country toward stability and integrity, or whether the unrest that brought her to power will return if promises of reform fall short.
Either way, this moment has already entered Nepal’s history books. The people have spoken, and the message is clear: Nepal’s youth are no longer willing to be ignored.
