The ruling seven party alliance (SPA) on Wednesday finalized the draft of a ‘historic political proclamation’ that aims to make the parliament all-powerful to be presented in the House on Thursday.
Parliament building: Waiting for new representatives Parliament building
Thursday’s cabinet meeting will give the final touches to the declaration.
Highlights of the declaration include scrapping the provision of Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Nepalese Army held by the king.
The name of the army, too, will be changed to “Nepal National Army”. Next is dissolution of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee. From now on, parliament will take care of the job done by the Raj Parishad.
The proclamation also scraped the controversial provision giving the monarch discretionary powers in certain cases. From now on, the monarch will not have any authority to enact the law concerning royal succession, which will be done by the parliament.
The proclamation will also impose tax on the income and properties of the King and his family.
The proclamation is replacing “His Majesty’s Government” with “Nepal Government”.
Similarly, while the cabinet will appoint the army chief, mobilisation of the army will be done on the decision of the cabinet. However, that will have to be approved by the stipulated parliamentary committee.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is to table the proclamation in the House and it will be endorsed by the MPs.
The proclamation was delayed on Monday, as leaders failed to settle some “technical” issues and agreed to get the proclamation endorsed by the Cabinet before tabling it in the House.
The delay triggered sporadic violent protests Tuesday in Kathmandu but the situation returned to normalcy with assurances from the home minister that the proclamation would be tabled at Thursday’s session.
Nepal Television will live broadcast the historic house proclamation.