Wed Jan 29 05:00:00 IST 2025: ## Nepal’s Ruling Coalition Betrays Promise of Constitutional Reform, Threatening Inclusivity
Kathmandu, Nepal – Nepal’s ruling coalition, comprised of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) and the Nepali Congress, has abandoned its six-month-old pledge to amend the constitution for political stability. Instead, the coalition is pushing to raise the electoral threshold for proportional representation (PR), a move critics say will undermine inclusivity and disproportionately harm smaller parties representing marginalized groups.
Currently, parties need 3% of the vote to secure seats under the PR system, which allocates 110 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives. The coalition aims to increase this threshold to 5%. Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli stated that constitutional amendments are not feasible before 2030, further highlighting the shift in strategy.
This change, analysts argue, would significantly reduce representation for women and disadvantaged groups. The PR system is considered crucial for inclusivity in Nepal’s diverse society, and altering it is seen as regressive. Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai accused the ruling parties of concealing their intention to dismantle the PR system.
Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Chandra Thapaliya publicly criticized the coalition’s move, asserting that the current system doesn’t prevent a single party from achieving a majority and that the parties’ focus on “stability” is a pretext for consolidating power. He emphasized that proportional representation is a cornerstone of Nepal’s inclusive democracy.
The coalition’s proposed changes contrast with a bill prepared by the Election Commission, which focuses on allowing Nepalis abroad to vote and mandating at least 33% women candidates in first-past-the-post elections, while leaving the PR threshold unchanged. The ruling parties plan to introduce their amendment to the bill during the upcoming winter session of Parliament.
Raising the threshold would benefit larger parties like the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress, potentially granting them additional seats at the expense of smaller, regional parties representing marginalized communities. Experts warn this move could violate citizens’ constitutional right to political representation and participation. The debate highlights a struggle between the pursuit of political stability and the protection of inclusive representation in Nepal’s fragile democracy.
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