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Nepal Ends Long Stalemate in Picking Prime Minister Nepal Ends Long Stalemate in Picking Prime Minister
(about 1 hour later)
NEW DELHI — After years of deadlock, Nepal’s Parliament on Monday elected Sushil Koirala, a longtime democratic activist who was involved in a famous 1973 Nepali plane hijacking, as the country’s new prime minister.NEW DELHI — After years of deadlock, Nepal’s Parliament on Monday elected Sushil Koirala, a longtime democratic activist who was involved in a famous 1973 Nepali plane hijacking, as the country’s new prime minister.
Mr. Koirala, 75, is the president of the Nepali Congress Party, which emerged from elections in November with the most seats in the country’s Constituent Assembly. Mr. Koirala won more than two-thirds of the legislators’ votes, with 405 voting for him and 148 opposed.Mr. Koirala, 75, is the president of the Nepali Congress Party, which emerged from elections in November with the most seats in the country’s Constituent Assembly. Mr. Koirala won more than two-thirds of the legislators’ votes, with 405 voting for him and 148 opposed.
Mr. Koirala’s impressive victory gives hope that Nepal’s Constituent Assembly may finally finish the job of writing a constitution, which must pass by a two-thirds majority.Mr. Koirala’s impressive victory gives hope that Nepal’s Constituent Assembly may finally finish the job of writing a constitution, which must pass by a two-thirds majority.
Born in Biratnagar in eastern Nepal, Mr. Koirala is a member of one of the country’s most storied political families. His uncle, Girija Prasad Koirala, was prime minister four different times. Born in Biratnagar in eastern Nepal, Mr. Koirala is a member of one of the country’s most storied political families. His uncle Girija Prasad Koirala was prime minister four times.
In 1973, Mr. Koirala and Girija Prasad Koirala helped hijack a plane bound for the capital, Katmandu, from Biratnagar. The plane was diverted to India, and the Koiralas stole more than 3 million Indian rupees to help finance an armed struggled against King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah, said Bipul Pokharel, a close Koirala aide. In 1973, Mr. Koirala and his uncle helped hijack a plane bound for the capital, Katmandu, from Biratnagar. The plane was diverted to India, and the Koiralas stole more than 3 million Indian rupees to help finance an armed struggle against King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah, said Bipul Pokharel, a close Koirala aide.
Mr. Koirala has spent six years in Indian and Nepali jails.Mr. Koirala has spent six years in Indian and Nepali jails.
Mr. Koirala’s elevation is a landmark event in Nepal’s painful path toward democracy. A 10-year civil war ended in 2006 with an agreement to hold elections, from which the Communist Party of Nepal, or Maoists, emerged as the dominant party. But years of disagreements and widespread accusations of corruption against the Maoists led to their being routed in a second round of elections, held in November. Mr. Koirala’s elevation is a landmark event in Nepal’s painful path toward democracy. A 10-year civil war ended in 2006 with an agreement to hold elections, from which the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) emerged as the dominant party. But years of disagreements and widespread accusations of corruption against the Maoists led to their being routed in a second round of elections, held in November.
The Communist Party of Nepal, or Unified Marxist-Leninist, the second-largest party in Parliament, threw its support behind Mr. Koirala, while the Maoists joined the monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal in voting against him. The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), the second-largest party in Parliament, threw its support behind Mr. Koirala, while the Maoists joined the monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal in voting against him.