Nepal’s new government, old concerns: Governance, dissent, shrinking civic space
Nepal's new government, led by Balendra Shah, is facing public backlash after 100 days in office due to perceived administrative failures and authoritarian tendencies. Recent incidents, including a self-immolation and poor handling of displaced squatters, have fueled protests and criticism from political analysts.
Why it matters
It highlights the challenges of transitioning from a protest-led movement to effective governance in a developing democracy.
As Nepal’s new government, led by Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old former Mayor of Kathmandu, completed its first 100 days in office, two incidents within 48 hours laid bare the widening gap between its promises of reform and the realities of governance.
On July 9, a ride-hailing driver self-immolated following an altercation with the city police over a parking dispute. The 25-year-old died the following day while undergoing treatment. A day later, a holding centre sheltering squatters and landless people after their eviction from Kathmandu’s riversides was inundated by monsoon rains.
The incidents have fuelled public anger against the majority government, with protests flaring up in Kathmandu and elsewhere. Critics say they expose administrative failures, poor planning and an increasingly high-handed style of governance.
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