Democracy For Nepal

Saturday, May 09, 2009

A Minority Government Is Possible

Prime Minister Upendra Yadav?

The Maoists are on one side, the NC-UML is on the other side, and there is no sign the two forces will meet, whereas the MJF stands in the happy middle. And the country needs a new government fast. And we are scheduled to have elections for a new parliament in a year or so. So whichever government takes shape will but last a year.

How about this? The Maoists invite Upendra Yadav to be Prime Minister, Yadav takes the three Madhesi parties into power with him to form a three party government. The Maoists do not participate, but support the government from outside, kind of like Chandrashekhar and the Congress in India back in the days.

In return Prime Minister Upendra Yadav sacks Katuwal. A unanimous cabinet decision to that effect gets taken and sent to the president. The president will have the option to return the decision back to the cabinet for reconsideration. The cabinet will send it back to the president. At that point the president will have no option but to send the decision over to the army, and Katuwal would be sacked.

That minority government will have the option to take its decision to sack Katuwal to the parliament where the proposal would pass with Maoist support. That might be the best way to sack Katuwal, through a parliamentary majority.

I do feel there is a need to prove there is civilian supremacy over the military.

In The News

MJF divided over new govt Himalayan Times
Prachanda criticises parties
Maoists seize 25 bighas in Bara
MJF meet inconclusive
NC backs MK Nepal as next PM
MJF throws its weight behind UML
FM Bhattarai falls ill
Abnormal normality Nepali Times The country seems to run better without a government
Maoists tricked UNMIN
Second chance However much Dahal's party may try to explain away the tape the fact is that he has admitted deceiving the UN and everyone else on guerilla numbers and about his commitment to the democratic process. ....A consensus national government would be the only one that can address those daunting challenges.
Yadav vs Dahal the Nepal Army has two chiefs, the president is behaving like a chief executive ...... The arithmetic of the CA is such that even if a government were to be formed without the Maoists, it would last only as long as Pushpa Kamal Dahal wishes.
No one won The Maoists saw the entire process, and the polls, as a tactical victory on way to total state control. ..... the generals feel they have won a huge victory and will be even less amenable to civilian control. ....... UML and MJF think this is their chance to lead the government. And NC is already thrilled at the windfall from ministries it will get to control. ...... The UML is hoping to get rewarded for foiling Maoist plans on army. The NC is happy to see the left take on the ultra-left. Other key players feel that the Maoists have got a bloody nose and should be kept out in the opposition ...... the Maoists are back in the game to form the government. The resources and patronage dispensation opportunities are just too tempting. They have told Upendra Yadav, finally back from his holiday, that they may possibly back him as PM while retaining control from outside. ........ Lack of progress on integration will split the Maoist leadership and weaken them. ...... PKD should use this moment of enormous popularity within the party to drive home the need for consensus. The other parties would do themselves a great favour by not letting fear and insecurity dictate all their actions.
UML claims stake over new consensual govt leadership Kantipur
No new govt in Nepal yet
“Resignation missile against foreign brokers, surrenderers”
President will be forced to resign: Minister Sharma
‘One Madhes’ key to MJF for new govt run Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) on Saturday decided to lend support to that party which supports its 'One Madhesh, One Province' demand....... the MJF stressed on the national consensus government including the Unified CPN (Maoist). .... The party has also urged the Maoists not to obstruct the Legislature-Parliament.
Maoist politburo decides not to let govt form till Prez move rectified
MJF discussing the best ally option
Anti-prez protests continue
PLA integration only after we have upper hand: Dahal
(Updated with video excerpts) Republica
'Suspicious people' held for leaking footage of Maoist Chairman
UCPN (Maoist) vow to block government formation
MPRF sets ´autonomous Madhes´ as precondition for its support
UML seeks support for govt formation
Dahal vents ire on parties, terms them foreign agents
UNMIN concerned over Shaktikhor tapes

K.P. Oli

Video: KP Oli 1
Video: KP Oli 2
Video: KP Oli 3

UML-led govt has no alternative, claims Oli NepalNews the past nine months reflected the failure of the Maoist to lead government........ Oli had served as the home minister in Nepal's first communist government of his party some 15 years ago ...... Oli, a staunch critic of Maoists, said his party is ready to go ahead for majority government if the Maoists do not show willingness for consensus government and warned to take strong measures if the Maoists continued to obstruct the parliament sessions. ...... He also blamed the Maoists for the instability in the country, claiming the government failed to respect the rule of law.

You can't let the Maoists decide if a majority government is possible or not. Of course it is possible. Because the constitution says so. Maybe it is time to call the Maoists' bluff. Oli perhaps has the right temperament. He is staunchly anti-Maoist. Jhala Nath Khanal might be too much of a Maoist appeaser to be any good for these times. Madhav Nepal also is not sufficiently anti-Maoist. Oli also has the advantage of having run both the Home and Foreign ministries. He has a major presence in his party's central committee.

The country perhaps needs someone who will teach the Maoists that use of force by the YCL is not an option.

But right now we don't even have a majority coalition in place. Got to get that first.

The idea of the Maoists leading yet another coalition government is ridiculous. They already tried and failed. They still don't see how Prachanda's bypassing all of his coalition partners on the Katuwal issue was not a legitimate step.

Now is the time perhaps for a UML-NC-MJF-TMDP-SP government.

In The News

Deadline to form new govt is over; consensus eludes parties NepalNews The NC, projecting Madhav Kumar Nepal as new prime minister and handing over responsibility to UML for garnering support from other parties, has failed to give any substantial decision thereafter. ..... Jhala Nath Khanal-led establishment of the party is not willing to name senior leader Nepal as the new PM .... The fourth largest party, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, is giving confusing signals on government formation. Terai based parties are likely to based their stand in line with MJF that has said whichever party supports the Madhesi agendas would get its backing. ...... the government cannot be formed without the House functioning
Old parties are trying to buy CA members: PM Dahal Saying that his party, Unified CPN (Maoist), was ready for big sacrifice in order to restore civilian supremacy in the country, Dahal said the parties that identify themselves as democrats have thrown their weight behind the army chief who challenged civilian supremacy. He described his resignation as a salvo against the foreign intervention and political betrayers and warned of strong protest movement against "brokers and betrayers"....... the ongoing attempts of other parties to form new government exclusive of Maoists are the outcome of defeated mentality
MJF still undecided over new govt He said their priority is for an all-party government ..... a three-member committee under the leadership of Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta to discuss with parties on the formation of the government and forge alliance with other Madhesi parties ..... When asked if his party is going stake claim for prime minister, Yadav said they don't claim but will not reject if circumstances 'compelled' them to accept it. He also said whichever party supports the demands of Terai based parties would get MJF's backing. ..... The party has criticised both Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and President Dr Ram Baran Yadav for their moves saying both are responsible for creating current political uncertainties. ..... PM's move was a challenge to politics of consensus while the President's order to army chief to stay put was unconstitutional. ..... coalitions that existed earlier have lost their meaning and that there is need to work out for new coalitions and called for all-party committee to sort out the political deadlock
UML-led govt has no alternative, claims Oli
Export of Nepali manpower 'growing'

Deadlock in Nepal, Madhesi parties hold key to new government

How can Nepal´s President CORRECT his Unconstitutional Veto?

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Saturday, May 09, 2009

A Minority Government Is Possible

K.P. Oli