King hands over power to people; calls on 7 parties to name next PM (7 : 42 p.m.)

April 21, 2006
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King Gyanendra today announced to hand over the executive power to the people.

His Majesty King Gyanendra addressing the Nation on state run NTV, Friday evening, Apr 21 06. nepalnews.com/rh

In a televised address to the nation, the King stated that what he set out to achieve through his February 1, 2005, move could not be materialized and that he had returned the executive power to the people as per the Article 35 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal.

He asked the agitating seven-party alliance to recommend a name for the Prime Minister, stressing the need for political understanding to bring ‘those outside the constitutional framework’ (meaning Maoists) to the democratic mainstream and enhance representative system. He, however, didn’t give a deadline for recommending the name for the Prime Minister’s post.

The existing government will remain functional until the parties come up with a name for the Prime Minister’s post, the King said.

Expressing commitment to constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy, the King said he tried to bring the political parties into the ‘dialogue process’ to end the prevailing crisis but this could not materialize during the past 14 months.

The announcement came on the 16th day of the nationwide general strike called by the seven parties.

Meanwhile, the government has extended the curfew in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur until by until 12:00 tonight. Earlier, the local authorities in three districts had clamped a 9:00 a.m.-8 p.m. curfew. nepalnews.com mk Apr 21 06