PM DISCUSSES CONVENING PARLIAMENT WITH COALITION PARTNERS

Kathmandu, 25 Dec.: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Saturday discussed convening a normal session of parliament after Maoists and five small parties withdrew their demand for a special parliamentary session elect a successor of the incumbent government chief.
The parties that didn’t have a majority in the 599-member parliament also pushed for an amendment to a parliamentary procedure for electing a premier.
Nepal has been rules by a caretaker government since 30 June when the incumbent premier resigned under Maoist pressure.
World capitals have called for the election of Nepal’s successor to conduct business with the government.
Six parties withdrew their call for a special session when the Big Three agreed to convene a normal session within a week and form a national government.
Premier Nepal Saturday briefed coalition on the agreement between the Maoists, NC and UML.
PM Nepal continues consultations Sunday to convene before asking the president to summon parliament into session.
NC has recommended the parliament be convened 2 January.
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ONE DEAD, 26 INJUED IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT

Kathmandu, 25 Dec.: One person died and 26 were injured Saturday when a tripper and a minibus collided at Janakinagar on the Bhairahawa-Butwal highway.
Seven are seriously injured and are undergoing treatment in two
hospitals in the region.
Thirteen pilgrims were injured, five seriously, in a bus accident in Bara Saturday.
The bus was heading to its destination from the capital.
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IMPEACHMENT OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICE DISCUSSED

Kathmandu, 25 Dec.: Speaker Subash Nemwang Friday discussed the impeachment in parliament of supreme court justice Rana Bahadur Bam with chief whips of Big Three.
They discussed the impeachment recommended by the judicial
council.
“The process will move ahead with deep study,’ NC Chief Whip
Laxman Prasad Ghimere said.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

‘The only objective of the Congress is to take the peace process
to a conclusion, promulgate a new constitution and institutionalize democracy by conducting fresh elections.”

(NC President Sushil Koirala, Annapura Post, 25 Dec.)
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‘No laws for the dearest son-in-laws.’

(Sujata Koirala, cartoon in Republica, 25 Dec.)
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UML OPEN FOR MAJORITY GOVT.





Kathmandu 25 Dec.: CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel Friday said that the constitution drafting process would not be completed without a national unity government, The Rising Nepal reports from Nepalgunj.
He said that his party was trying to reach consensus for the national unity government.
No majority government would succeed to address the nation’s problems and existing political deadlocks, he said.
Speaking at the inauguration of a meeting of active members of CPN-UML, Karnali Zone, in Nepalgunj, he said that his party had given high priority to form the national unity government with a high level political consensus.
He said that the UML was open for a majority government if the parties failed to reach consensus for the majority government.
If NC was not ready to withdraw its prime ministerial candidacy, the UML would vote against Ram Chandra Poudel in the legislature parliament, he said.
The UML was ready to form the majority government by initiating a new procedure which would start after the NC withdrew its candidacy, he said.
"Factions among the political parties have created challenges to save the achievements of people’s movement. Consensus among the major political parties is necessary to protect the gains," he said.
"Dahal and Nepal-led governments failed due to the majority system and no majority government will succeed to address the current political deadlock", he said.
He said that no party would succeed to accomplish the tasks before the nation without consensus and added that the UML had no interest to lead the government without consensus.
Leader Pokharel further said that if all parties come up with consensus, the UML was ready to lead the government.
State Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Dilli Bahadur Mahat said that the government had given high priority to develop the Karnali region and added, "The government was serious about problems of Karnali people."

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THOUGHTS OF GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SHANKER POKHREL

Kathmandu, 25 Dec.: Minister for Information and Communications, and UML Secretary, Shankar Pokharel talked to Thira L Bhusal pn Republica Friday and offered his analysis of how politics will unfold in the days ahead.


Excerpts:

More confrontations ahead

Politics is headed for more conflict and confrontation. Though the leaders often talk of consensus and collaboration this has so far remained a mere slogan. In reality, there is a fierce conflict between the parties and there is hardly any common ground for an agreement. The differences among the parties will only grow in the days to come and it will push the country further towards conflict.

Regular House session

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal will soon start consultations with the political parties to reach an understanding on when to call the regular session of parliament. Though the three parties [UCPN (M), NC and UML] had agreed to call the regular session ´as soon as possible´ the agreement doesn´t specifically mention the timeframe. I have heard some leaders saying that the session should be called within a week but that´s an individual interpretation of the agreement. It may take as long as three weeks before the regular session actually begins.

Possible alliances

It´s too early to predict the future alliance between the parties. But theoretically speaking, there are at least three possibilities. First, a Maoist-led alliance; second an NC-UML alliance and third an UML- Maoist alliance. There is very slim chance that a Maoist-led government will be formed since both the NC and UML have clearly said that Maoist leadership would be unacceptable until the peace process is completed and the Maoist party transformed itself into a truly civilian party. Madhesi parties have also refused to back a Maoist-led government. This leaves us with an alliance between either the NC and UML or the Maoists and UML.

NC-UML democratic alliance

The need of the hour is to further strengthen the existing democratic alliance and to put more pressure on the Maoists to come into the democratic mainstream; complete the peace process; and promulgate the new constitution. Since the Maoists have not yet given up their mindset of capturing the state by force, are threatening a revolt, and are still hesitant to detach the party from their arms and army, strengthening the democratic alliance has become even more urgent.

But this will depend upon whether the NC and UML will be able to negotiate and strike a deal before NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel withdraws his candidacy for PM. If there is no deal until Paudel withdraws his candidacy, it will become difficult to cobble an NC-UML alliance afterwards. The Maoists will try to take advantage of the situation and this will create complications within the UML.

UML-Maoist coalition

If the Maoists announce support for UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal as the next prime minister, it will stir a new debate in the UML. Some UML leaders will definitely argue that the party should go for a government headed by the party chairman and it should not miss the opportunity. But there will be a counter-argument as well: Should the party opt to lead a government with the backing of the Maoists, which will only make the government a puppet of the Maoist party or should we first press the Maoists to agree to the UML´s roadmap for peace and constitution? UML-Maoist collaboration will be possible only if the Maoist party agrees to detach itself from its combatants, bring them under the government-formed special committee and agree a timeline on completing the peace process as proposed by the UML.
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