Nepal: tens of thousands in the streets against the dissolution of Parliament
Nepalese demonstrators in the streets of Kathmandu to protest against the dissolution of parliament by Prime Minister Sharma Oli on January 22, 2021. AFP - PRAKASH MATHEMA
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A month ago the Nepalese Prime Minister, at the head of an unstable communist alliance, decided to dissolve the parliament.
Since then, anger has been mounting.
This Friday, January 22, tens of thousands of communist activists marched in the capital Kathmandu.
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With our correspondent in Bangalore,
Côme Bastin
Nepal has had no parliament for a month.
This Friday, demonstrators took to the streets of Kathmandu en masse to demand new elections.
The dissolution was pronounced on December 20 by Prime Minister Sharma Oli.
It had created surprise and anger as the head of government's Nepalese Communist Party had a large majority.
However, a branch of this party, which had since become independent, accused it of monopolizing power and of being too close to Beijing.
All against a background of mismanagement of the coronavirus crisis.
Hindu nationalists
The demonstrators consider this dissolution anti-constitutional.
For them, the new elections, scheduled for April, must take place more quickly.
They are also concerned that Sharma Oli will use this period to better lead alone.
No violence is to be deplored, but the country is sinking deeper into political crisis.
Especially since the Communists are not the only ones to demonstrate.
In early January, thousands of activists from the Hindu nationalist party RPPN marched through Kathmandu to demand the return of the monarchy.
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Read also: Nepal: considered too close to Beijing by his party, the Prime Minister dissolves Parliament
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