Nepal’s Ex-Chief Justice Sushila Karki Emerges as Likely Leader of Gen Z–Driven Political Transition
Army holds talks with youth representatives as Karki emerges as consensus choice amid unrest
Kathmandu, Sep 11: Nepal’s former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has emerged as the frontrunner to head an interim government, according to representatives of the Gen Z–led protest movement that forced the resignation of the Prime Minister earlier this week.
Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel held consultations with stakeholders and met Gen Z representatives on Wednesday (September 10, 2025), a military spokesperson confirmed. The move comes after violent demonstrations the worst in two decades saw parliament set ablaze and left at least 19 people dead.
“Right now, Sushila Karki’s name is coming up to lead the interim government we are now waiting for the President to make a move,” protest leader Rakshya Bam told reporters, adding that talks with the army chief focused on “peace and security of the country.”
Karki, 73, Nepal’s first female Supreme Court Chief Justice and a respected academic, has stressed that “experts need to come together to figure out the way forward” while insisting that “the parliament still stands.”
However, the protest movement a loosely connected, decentralised coalition of young activists has yet to reach full consensus. In virtual discussions on Discord, protesters debated multiple names and competing agendas, highlighting divisions within the movement.
Journalist Pranaya Rana noted, “It is natural in a decentralised movement like this that there are going to be competing interests and competing voices.”
Meanwhile, the army has stepped up its presence in Kathmandu, with checkpoints across the capital. Although the streets remained relatively calm on Thursday (September 11, 2025), soldiers continued patrolling to prevent further escalation.
The protests, which began on September 8 against a government social media ban and widespread corruption, quickly spiraled into nationwide unrest, culminating in the ouster of the Prime Minister and the torching of government buildings.
