■ نيبال

Nepal’s Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal yesterday tendered his resignation to President Ram Baran Yadahav, making his 6 months tenure the shortest within a four year period that has been characterized by unstable governments. A statement from his Press Advisor says the move was to pave the way for a national government that will be able to complete the peace process and the new constitution. Khanal’s resignation has heightened fears that the conclusion of the constitutional process which has already been delayed three times might yet again miss the August 31 deadline.

Which institution should have the jurisdiction to interpret the constitution? How should dispute settlement between the provinces and the Kathmandu be addressed? Which institution should oversee the legality of the bodies set up in the Constitution? How can access to justice and trust in the judiciary be improved?

Nepalese lawmakers agreed on Sunday to extend their parliament by three months in order to finish writing the nation’s new constitution, (India Express). This agreement came at the end of weeklong negotiations between the country’s largest political parties who have been unable so far to agree on the future structure of their government.

In a press statement released Tuesday, the Communist Party of Nepal (Masal) has warned of serious political consequences if the Constituent Assembly is dissolved when its term expires on May 28, (The Himalayan Times). The party, which is in favour of extending the body’s mandate, has advanced three reasons why the CA should not be dissolved. It argues, firstly, that there will be the prospect of an authoritarian government in the absence of the assembly. Secondly, dissolving the assembly will make the tenure of government indefinitely longer.

The Nepali Congress (NC) party has spelt out a number of conditions it expects the Maoists and the ruling coalition to meet before it can support any extension to the term of the Constituent Assembly (CA), according to the Kathamandu Post.

Nepal’s Prime Minister, Mohan Adhikary, on May 10 announced that government is working hard to ensure that the May 28, deadline for producing the draft constitution is respected. The statement comes amidst reports in India’s Daily News and Analyses and Nepal’s The Himalayan Times that the May 28 deadline may also not be met, thereby, triggering an extension of the mandate of the Constituent Assembly, which had earlier failed to meet a May 5 deadline for producing the draft. On May 8, The Kathmandu Post reported that there is growing popular disillusionment with the political class across Nepal for how it has managed the constitutional process to date. Nepal has been undergoing a transition since a popular revolution replaced the Monarchy with a Republic in 2006.