Politics

The politics of Nepal takes place in a framework of a monarchy in transition to a parliamentary democracy. Currently, the Prime Minister of Nepal is the head of government. Nepal has a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Nepal House of Representatives. Nepal is a monarchy that is multiethnic, multilingual, and Hindu, that retains the king in the role of head of state. On 1 February 2005, King Gyanendra dissolved the government and assumed emergency powers. Following the 2006 Loktantra Andolan, however, the parliament has been reinstated.

Executive Branch

The Executive Power of the Kingdom of Nepal is vested in the King of Nepal and the Council of Ministers.

Legislative Branch

The Parliament (Sansad) has two chambers. The House of Representatives (Pratinidhi Sabha) has 330 members elected for five year term in single-seat constituencies. The National Council (Rashtriya Sabha) has 60 members, 35 members elected by the Pratinidhi Sabha, 15 representatives of Regional Development Areas and 10 members appointed by the king.

Judicial Branch

The judiciary is made of the Sarbochha Adalat (Supreme Court), appellate courts and various district courts. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the other judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Council.

Political History

Until 1990, Nepal was an absolute monarchy running under the executive control of the king. Faced with a people's movement against the absolute monarchy, King Birendra, in 1990, agreed to large-scale political reforms by creating a parliamentary monarchy with the king as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of the government.

Nepal's legislature was bicameral consisting of a House of Representatives and a National Council. The House of Representatives consists of 205 members directly elected by the people. The National Council had 60 members, 10 nominated by the king, 35 elected by the House of Representatives and the remaining 15 elected by an electoral college made up of chairs of villages and towns. The legislature had a five-year term, but was dissolvable by the king before its term could end. All Nepalese citizens 18 years and older became eligible to vote.

The executive comprised the King and the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet). The leader of the coalition or party securing the maximum seats in an election was appointed as the Prime Minister. The Cabinet was appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Governments in Nepal have tended to be highly unstable; no government has survived for more than two years since 1991, either through internal collapse or parliamentary dissolution by the monarch.

The April movement of 2006 brought about a change in the nation. The autocratic King had to give up power. The dissolved House of Representatives was restored. The House of Representatives formed a government which had successful peace talks with the Maoist Rebels. An interim constitution was promulgated and an interim House of Representatives was formed with Maoist members. The number of seats were also increased to 330. The peace process in Nepal made a giant leap in April 2007, when the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) joined the interim government of Nepal.

Foreign Affairs

Nepal has close ties with both of its neighbours, India and China. In accordance with a long-standing treaty, Indian and Nepalese citizens may travel to each others' countries without a passport or visa. Nepalese citizens may work in India without legal restriction.

Although Nepal and India typically have close ties, from time to time Nepal becomes caught up in the problematic Sino-Indian relationship. India considers Nepal as part of its realm of influence, and views Chinese aid with concern. Some Indians consider Nepal to be part of a greater pan-Indian state, an attitude that has caused Nepalese antagonism towards India.

In 2005, after King Gyanendra took over, Nepalese relations with India, the US, and the UK have worsened. These three foreign countries have been vociferous opponents to the crackdown on civil liberties in Nepal. China mainly seeks cooperation with Nepal on the issue of Tibetan independence, including the degree of freedom that Nepal gives the thousands of Tibetan refugees living in its territory and the approximately 2,000-3,000 Tibetans that seek to escape Tibet through Nepal each year. Outside of Asia, Nepal has especially friendly relations with Germany, and has historical military links with the United Kingdom.

Military

Nepal's military consists of the Nepalese Army which includes the Nepalese Army Air Service, (the air force unit under it), and the Nepalese Police Force. On May 19, 2006 The House unanimously passed the proposal to rename Royal Nepal Army (RNA) as the 'Nepali Army'. Service is voluntary and the minimum age for enlistment is 18 years. Nepal spends $99.2 million (2004) on its military - 1.5% of its GDP. The Nepali Army has 90,000 soldiers, who were engaged in the civil war against the Maoist insurgents.