NEW DELHI: Nepal’s newly appointed interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Sunday pledged to act on the demands of youth-led protesters, vowing to prioritise anti-corruption, good governance and economic justice during her six-month tenure.
Speaking publicly for the first time since taking office on Friday, Karki said her government would reflect the aspirations of the “Gen Z generation,” whose mass protests forced the fall of the previous administration earlier this week. She also made it clear that she would not remain in office beyond the next six months. “We have to work according to the thinking of the Gen Z generation,” Karki said. “What this group is demanding is the end of corruption, good governance, and economic equality. You and I have to be determined to fulfil that.”
Karki, 73, a former Chief Justice of Nepal, was appointed interim Prime Minister after three days of negotiations at the Presidential Palace, Sheetal Niwas. Her appointment followed massive protests that broke out on September 8 in response to a government-imposed ban on social media platforms. The demonstrations escalated into widespread unrest, leaving 72 people dead, including three police personnel, and causing damage to key state institutions, including the Parliament building, which was set on fire.
“I did not wish for this job,” Karki said. “It was after voices from the streets that I was compelled to accept.” She said she would serve only as a caretaker and step down after the general elections scheduled for March 5, 2026.
Addressing the violence during the protests, Karki said she was “ashamed” of the destruction but underscored her commitment to those demanding change. “If they were Nepalis who destroyed these essential structures, how can they be called Nepalis?” she asked. At the same time, she referred to those killed during the protests as “martyrs” and promised state compensation for their families.
Karki described the September 9 arson and vandalism as “organised criminal acts,” separate from the Gen Z-led demonstrations. She ordered repairs to damaged police posts and announced that the Home Ministry’s new building would temporarily serve as the Prime Minister’s Office after the original was torched during the protests.
Known for her clean reputation, Karki, who was Nepal’s first female Chief Justice, said her role now is to restore order, rebuild damaged institutions, and ensure that the momentum for change is not lost.