Nepal’s Gen Z protesters back ex-chief justice Karki for interim leadership

Nepal’s Gen Z protesters have endorsed former chief justice Sushila Karki to lead an interim government following violent anti-corruption demonstrations that toppled prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli and left at least 30 people dead.

Members backed Karki in an online vote on the chatting app Discord, where she emerged as the most favoured candidate, beating influencer Rastra Bimochan Timilsina, young politician Sagar Dhakal, Dharan mayor Harka Sampang and Mahabir Pun, a leading social figure known for pushing tech innovations and rural development.

Karki, 73, who became Nepal’s first woman chief justice in 2016, is known for her zero-tolerance approach against corruption.

That factor has prompted Kathmandu resident Ekta Adhikari to support Karki’s candidacy, hoping she would advance women’s rights issues and look into sexual violence-related cases from the Maoist insurgency years.

“I hope the interim government will have a good foundation to maintain law and order and have a cleaner background, with no history of corruption or major political affiliation,” the 21-year-old said.

But not everyone agrees. Some Gen Z representatives raised questions about Karki’s impartiality as she was appointed during the Oli-led government, rallying behind rapper turned Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah to head a transitional government.