Historic vote for Nepal

2008-07-19 13:19

Kathmandu - Lawmakers in Nepal are expected to vote on Saturday for the country's first president following the abolition of the Hindu monarchy, paving the way for the dominant Maoists to form a government.

The country has been in political limbo after a landmark meeting of a newly elected constitutional assembly sacked unpopular king Gyanendra and abolished the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy on May 28.

The rebels - who dominate but do not have a majority in the 601-member assembly - have been unable to muster enough support from two other parties to form a government.

After failing to agree on who should become president, the three main parties each put forth a candidate. Voting by 594 lawmakers will take place on Saturday by secret ballot, with a simple majority of 298 needed to win.

The three men in the running are ethnic Mahadhesis who hail from the troubled lowland area bordering India known as the Terai, where demands for an autonomous federal state have seen frequent deadly clashes.

Favourite

Political analysts say die-hard republican Ramraja Prasad Singh, arrested two decades ago for throwing small bombs at parliament and the palace as part of an anti-royal protest, is the favourite to win.

Singh, 73, is backed by the Maoists although he is not a member of their party.

Editor of the Nepali-language news weekly Samay, Yubaraj Ghimire, said the Maoists, who control 226 seats, appeared to be counting on the support of many of the Terai lawmakers, who have 82 seats.

"If the Maoists are able to secure the support of at least 72 more people, they are going to have their representative elected."

No matter who wins, the new head of state will be "President Ram", since all three candidates share the name of the most revered incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu.

In the past seven weeks, as arguing continued over the largely symbolic presidential post, Nepal has been largely ungoverned.

The interim prime minister resigned, but with no one in power to accept his resignation, has lingered on as a weak caretaker.

Ceremonial

The new president, meanwhile, is likely to take over some of the ceremonial duties previously performed by ousted King Gyanendra, who is also believed to be an incarnation of the blue-hued deity.

The Nepali fiscal year on July 15 ended without a new budget, although the assembly did approve a supplemental spending bill.

The country has lurched from strike to strike, over fuel prices, wages and working conditions.

But once a president is in place, that will pave the way for the formation of a government headed by a prime minister, most likely Maoist chief Prachanda.

"The president will accept the resignation of the (interim) prime minister and then the Maoists can form a government," Ghimire said.

- SAPA