NEPAL
Tug-of-War
Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli dissolved parliament Sunday, a move that could alter the political future of Nepal, where China and India have been vying for influence, the New York Times reported.
Now, new elections are scheduled for late April, almost two years earlier than scheduled.
Oli has been increasingly criticized – including by members of his Communist Party – for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, while his administration has been plagued by allegations of corruption.
He was elected prime minister in 2017 on the promise of rooting out corruption and fostering closer ties with China.
The dissolution of parliament might help Oli avoid a potential no-confidence vote but analysts said the move could be challenged in Nepal’s highest court.
Nepal has long swung between favoring China or India even as the country has fostered closer ties with Beijing in recent years: China has pumped money into Nepal and, earlier this month, both nations jointly announced a new height for Mount Everest, which had been a source of dispute for years.
Analysts added that if Oli falls, China might lose a friend – the next prime minister might be more India-friendly.
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