Nepalese Prime Minister Oli strengthens hold on power with two-third majority support

Jul 22, 2024

Kathmandu (Nepal), July 22 (ANI): Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli secured a two-thirds majority in the vote of confidence motion tabled in parliament on July 21st, 2024. Oli received 188 votes in the 275-member parliament, with 74 votes against and one abstention, the house speaker announced. On July 21st, a total of 263 lawmakers were present at the meeting. The prime minister needed at least 138 votes to win the trust motion. Oli was appointed Prime Minister under Article 76(2) of the constitution, which requires the newly appointed Prime Minister to secure a vote of confidence within 30 days. Oli, appointed by President Ramchandra Paudel on July 15, was endorsed by 166 lawmakers' signatures. Earlier, while presenting the motion, Oli disclosed the contents of a seven-point agreement reached between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML earlier this month. Prime Minister Oli stated that this agreement was part of the efforts by the two major parties to address the country's urgent issues. The Nepali constitution requires a Prime Minister to secure at least 138 votes to take office and to pass a confidence vote within 30 days of appointment. Oli first served as Prime Minister from October 2015 to August 2016, and again from February 2018 to May 2021. He was reappointed from May 2021 to July 2021 under Article 76(3) but faced two parliament dissolutions overturned by the Supreme Court. According to a July 2 agreement, the Congress and UML will rotate leadership until the 2027 elections.