Nepal’s local elections
Second round of voting to put new constitution to the test.
For the first time in 20 years, local elections are taking place in Nepal, an important step in putting the nascent democracy’s new constitution into effect. But some feel they have been underrepresented in the democratic process. The Madhesi, who make up about a third of the population mostly along the border with India, are asking for more political and economic influence. Their dissatisfaction threatens the second round of elections, due to take place on June 14th.
The elections are being heralded as a way to mend the relationship between the central government and a local population that suffered during a 10-year rebellion by Maoist fighters. That conflict ended in 2006 after a peace agreement abolished a feudal monarchy that had ruled for nearly 250 years.
Now the “new Nepal” is being put to the test in a series of elections that are the next step in decentralising the national government and implementing a constitution adopted just a little over a year ago. Nepalese are eager to participate. Seventy-one percent of the population turned out to vote in the first round of elections – high by any standards.
Those people are hoping to have more of a say over how their villages, schools, and local administrations are run. Hopes are high that true participatory governance is coming, but Madhesi political parties have threatened to boycott the elections. Still, the success of the first round is a good sign.
So, as Nepal continues to move toward multi-party democracy, how can the country make sure all of its people have a voice?
In this episode of The Stream, we speak with:
Subhash Ghimire @subhash580
Editor-in-Chief, MyRepublica
myrepublica.com
Dipendra Jha @dipjha
Nepal Supreme Court Lawyer
tjcnepal.blogspot.com
Gyanu Adhikari @recordnepal
Editor, The Record
recordnepal.com
Hima Bista @himabista
Voter
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