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This week witnessed a resurgence in the verbal sparring between republican and monarchist forces in the country. Former king Gyanendra Shah took a swipe at the failure of the political parties to bring peace, stability and prosperity to the country. He said there is extreme disappointment among people due to the activities of the political parties. In response, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli dismissed Gyanendra Shah as a mere dummy rather than a monarch. Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal went on to say that the government would launch an investigation into the 2001 massacre involving King Birendra's family. 

Rastriya Prajantra Party (RPP) has already declared its intent to take to the streets for the restoration of monarchy and the Hindu state. Interactions between former king Shah and royalist forces have intensified recently. Major political parties, including Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Center), are increasingly concerned about the growing influence of royalist forces. They fear the potential weaponization of public frustration against the current political system. However, engaging in a war of words and issuing threats against royalist forces will not address the root issues. The focus should shift toward addressing the growing dissatisfaction among the people. Foremost among the priorities should be corruption control and improvement in governance at all levels. Widespread unemployment is fueling discontent among people prompting many to seek opportunities abroad or endure miserable conditions at home. The recent trend of Nepalis joining the Russian Army speaks volumes about the desperation for well-paying jobs. Moreover, thousands of people are protesting in the streets, demanding the return of their deposits from troubled financial cooperatives. Victims of loan sharks are preparing to rally as well.

The current situation underscores the imperative for simultaneous economic development to sustain epochal changes such as republicanism, federalism and inclusion. Although historic political changes have taken place in Nepal over the past two decades, political leadership has neither rectified its approaches nor taken serious measures for economic development. The political parties need to recognize that not only royalist forces but also other adversarial elements can exploit public sentiments and frustration to destabilize the existing political system. Therefore, the political parties—both in the government and in the opposition—should think about resolving the key problems that the country is facing at the moment.

Forming governments, formulating laws, overseeing parliamentary functions, conducting hearings and approving annual budgets are the main responsibilities of legislatures. While these functions collectively define the essence of parliamentary duties, the main responsibility remains the formulation of laws.  The winter session of parliament, also known as the bill session, is beginning on Feb 5. The track record of the previous session is not satisfactory when it comes to formulating laws. All the stakeholders, the government, parliament secretariat and political parties, therefore, must be serious about providing sufficient business to the house in this session.

The delay in endorsing crucial bills is impeding the functioning of the federal, provincial, and local governments. Of particular concern is the prolonged delay in endorsing the Amendments to Some Laws relating to AML and Business Promotion Bill which has been gathering dust in the Federal Parliament Secretariat for two years. The failure to promptly endorse this crucial bill is increasing the risk of Nepal being listed by the Financial Action Task Force as a jurisdiction with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. Political parties must recognize the potential repercussions it could have on Nepal's global financial standing and correspondent banking relationships, and act swiftly to address these concerns. 

Equally pressing is the need for immediate endorsement of crucial bills such as the one related to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Although top party leaders have held numerous discussions on the Bill, key contentious issues still remain unresolved. Despite this, the government is preparing to endorse the bill during the winter session.  The Parliament is losing the trust of the people as it fails to perform its key tasks. The operational costs of Parliament are significant, but the performance of both Parliament and parliamentarians is disheartening. It is important for parliamentarians to collaborate with the government in ensuring the timely fulfillment of their legislative responsibilities. 

To expedite the law-making process, parliamentarians can collectively urge the government to provide the necessary business and work towards a consensus on key bills. The continued sluggish pace threatens to further diminish public faith in Parliament, especially at a time when there is growing discontent with the current constitution and political systems. The failure of Parliament to enact laws in a timely manner is affecting effective functioning of the federal system, thereby raising questions about the relevance of such structures. The government, major political parties, and lawmakers need to address the issue urgently because an ineffective Parliament means there will be more attacks on the system.

The world is currently grappling with multiple crises, ranging from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and tense dynamics between the US and China to escalating tensions in the Middle East, economic recessions, and the pressing issue of climate change. Navigating foreign policy and international relations efficiently during such tumultuous times is challenging for every country.

As major power rivalries escalate, countries in the Global South are facing difficulties staying away from this bloc and alliance politics. Powerful countries are putting pressure on these countries to support them on global issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the crisis in the Middle East. In the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine war, a noticeable shift has been seen in the Global South which is trying to adopt a policy of neutrality on various international matters. A common thread among these nations is that they do not want to engage in strategic and military competitions between two countries, but want to maintain equal economic relations with all countries.

Amid these global challenges, leaders from about 120 countries have gathered in Kampala, Uganda, for the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which kicked off on Monday. There is a high-level participation from Nepal in the summit under the leadership of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud has already addressed the ministerial conference, highlighting non-alignment as the basis of Nepal's foreign policy. Saud has conveyed a clear message that Nepal maintains an independent and balanced foreign policy and will never join military alliances or security pacts.

The statement of the foreign minister has come at a time when there are intensive discussions on the relevance of the policy of non-alignment in contemporary geopolitics. Such discussions and points of view are misguided because the policy of non-alignment is not merely a movement that began in the 1960s; it is a principle that is still relevant. While interpretations of non-alignment may vary, its essence remains rooted in the refusal to align with one power at the expense of antagonizing others. Nepal's policy of non-alignment has not hindered its ability to forge economic cooperation with all powers.

The policy is still relevant today as powerful nations vie to pull Nepal into their orbits, pressuring it to abandon its neutral stance and support their military and strategic initiatives. Given its geographical, geopolitical, and strategic location, Nepal cannot afford to take sides. Through the policy of non-alignment, Nepal has to give a clear message: it seeks engagement on economic terms while steering clear of military and strategic entanglements. It is willing to consider economic offers devoid of strategic components. As the world grapples with complexity, we urge the government and political parties in Nepal to adhere to the principles of non-alignment.

The Election Commission (EC) is holding National Assembly polls on January 25 to fill 19 seats that are becoming vacant on March 4. The EC has published the final list of candidates contesting the election. However, the major parties, mainly the Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center), have faced a backlash from their cadres and people alike over the selection of candidates. 

The upper house serves as an eclectic council of experts and scholars that advises the House of Representatives. It plays an important role in making the lower house and the government accountable. However, the selection of candidates by major parties tells a different story. Leaders, who were rejected by voters in the House of Representatives (HoR) elections multiple times, have been granted tickets. Such practice undermines the spirit of the upper house as the dominance of same old defeated faces in parliament discourages youth leaders within major parties. There is deep dissatisfaction over the selection of candidates within the NC. Moreover, parties have violated the principle of inclusion in candidate selection. The Nepali Congress, for example, doesn’t have a single candidate representing the Madhes region.

Not only the Nepali Congress, the Maoist Center and CPN-UML have, in the past, appointed leaders who lost House of Representatives elections to the upper house. Since its formation in 2018, only a few experts have been sent to the upper house. This has tarnished the status and glory of the upper house. Contrary to its intended role as the conscience keeper of parliament, the National Assembly has failed to function independently due to excessive influence of government and political parties.

The top leaders of major parties, however, appear unaffected by the backlash over candidate selection. The major parties need to to take this matter seriously, as the diminishing trust of the people toward parliamentary bodies poses a threat to democracy as a whole. At a time when some people are criticizing the 2015 Constitution and democracy, unpopular decisions by major parties will further erode public trust in the current system. Therefore, parties must address this issue seriously and work toward restoring the reputation of parliament.