Embassy of the United States

Source: 2008 CIA World Factbook (edited)

Political History: In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, gained traction and threatened to bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-fire between the Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003. In 2001, the crown prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after [the Prime Minister] dissolved the parliament and [was] subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing insurgency. While stopping short of reestablishing parliament, the king in June 2004 reinstated the most recently elected prime minister who formed a four-party coalition government. Citing dissatisfaction with the government's lack of progress in addressing the Maoist insurgency and corruption, the king in February 2005 dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency, imprisoned party leaders, and assumed power. The king's government subsequently released party leaders and officially ended the state of emergency in May 2005, but the monarch retained absolute power until April 2006. After nearly three weeks of mass protests organized by the seven-party opposition and the Maoists, the king allowed parliament to reconvene in April 2006. Following a November 2006 peace accord between the government and the Maoists, an interim constitution was promulgated and the Maoists were allowed to enter parliament in January 2007. The peace accord calls for the creation of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution. The Constituent Assembly elections, originally planned for June 2007 have been postponed to April 10, 2008.

Population: 28,901,790 (July 2007 est.)

Capital: name: Kathmandu
geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E
time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

Constitution: A new interim constitution was promulgated in January 2007; the November 2006 peace agreement calls for the election of a constituent assembly to draft a new permanent constitution

Legal system: Based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Flag:                              Emblem: 

Executive branch: chief of state: Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 30 April 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 30 April 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet historically appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; note - the prime minister selected the Cabinet in May 2006 in consultation with the political parties
elections: following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition historically has been appointed prime minister by the monarch

Legislative branch: A [328] seat Interim Parliament was formed on 15 January 2007 following the promulgation of an interim constitution
elections: Constituent Assembly elections originally scheduled for June 2007 are expected to be held on 10 April 2008

Political parties and leaders: Nepali Congress [Girija Prasad KOIRALA]; Communist Party of Nepal or CPN (Maoist) [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL alias Prachanda] [Note: The CPN-M is a designated terrorist organization under U.S. law]; Communist Party of Nepal/Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [Madhav Kumar NEPAL]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Pashupati Shumsher RANA]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; People’s Front Nepal [Amik SHERCHAN]; Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party – Ananda Devi or NSP-A [Ananda DEVI]; National People’s Front Nepal [Chitra Bahadur K.C.]; Communist Party of Nepal (United) [Chitra Bahadur ALE]; United left Front or ULF [C.P. MAINALI]; Rastriya Janashakti (National People Power) Party or RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA]; Madhesi People’s Rights Forum Nepal or MPRF Nepal [Upendra YADAV]; Terai-Madhes Democratic Party [Mahanta THAKUR]; Sadbhavana Party [Rajendra MAHATO]; Madhesi People’s Rights Forum [Bhagyanath GUPTA]; National Democratic Party Nepal or NDP/Nepal [Rabindra Nath SHARMA]

Judicial branch: The Prime Minister appoints the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, and the Chief Justice appoints other judges of the Supreme Court on the recommendation of the Judicial Council.