SPA forms taskforce to forge an agreement today itself
Dec 15 – The seven party-alliance is busy holding consultations on Saturday on the issue of power sharing among the three major parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist. The formal meeting of the seven parties held this morning at Baluwatar set up a taskforce to forge an agreement and come up with a draft for the same to be inked by the top leaders by this afternoon. The meeting of the top SPA leaders has been postponed till afternoon by asking the taskforce to hammer out an amicable solution of the power-sharing row. The taskforce comprises Maoist leader Babu Ram Bhattarai, NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi, UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikary, Left Front leader C P Mainali and the People’s Front leader Lila Mani Pokharel. (detail)
UML chief claims agreement by this evening, new CA polls date soon
Dec 15 – CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that the seven-party alliance would forge an agreement on the outstanding political issues by Saturday evening and the fresh date for the Constituent Assembly elections would be announced in a day or two. Talking to reporters at Bharatpur Airport upon arrival in Chitwan district where he came to inaugurate the sixth convention of the UML’s district unit today, Nepal even claimed that the parties have agreed on allocation of the ministerial portfolios.
However, he did not want to elaborate on the power-sharing agreement. He further added that the parties have already agreed to conduct the CA elections by the end of the current Nepali year i.e. mid-April next year, and that they would ink an agreement to this effect following the meeting of the top SPA leaders this evening. “The government would announce a new date for the elections within a day or two,” he said. (detail)
Power-sharing dispute stalls agreement
Dec 15 – Top leaders of the Seven-Party Alliance failed to convene their formal meeting on Friday as the three major parties could not agree on a fresh power-sharing deal as demanded by Maoists and the CPN-UML. CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Nepal and Maoist Chairman, Prachanda demanded that the Home, Defense and Finance ministries be allotted among the three largest parties-NC, CPN-UML and Maoists. As Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala rejected the demand outright, Prachanda and Nepal left the meeting telling the PM to invite them again if necessary. “They were clearly in a bargaining mode,” said an angry NC leader, adding, “They keep on adding demands that they think the NC cannot fulfill.” (detail here)
Old differences resurface, consensus sinks
Dec 14 – The much anticipated high-level talks between the major political parties failed to forge an agreement Friday. After the top leaders could not find a consensus on the current political issues during the high-level informal meeting, the formal seven-party meeting to end the current political deadlock–that was supposed to take place this afternoon—did not take place.
Top leaders of the major four parties, Nepali Congress (NC), UML, Maoists and People’s Front-Nepal, took part in the informal meeting held at Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s official Baluwatar residence. According to sources, although the political parties have reached an agreement on major issues including the proclamation of a republic through the interim parliament and approving the decision by the first meeting of the elected Constituent Assembly (CA), they are still divided on the technicalities of the mixed and multi proportional electoral proportional system. (more)
Republic to be mentioned in statute
PR percentage to go up
Dec 13 – Coming close to consensus on core political differences that dominated national politics for months, three major parties in the ruling Seven Party Alliance (SPA) have reached an understanding to set a fresh date for Constituent Assembly elections on Friday. Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist) leaders agreed to incorporate a term in the interim constitution to reflect the spirit of “Loktantrik Republic” and increase the proportional representation seats, as points of consensus, said UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal.
They have agreed to go for full-fledged implementation of a republic only after the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly. The PM will work as head of state until the CA’s first meet, according to Khanal. On the electoral system, they have agreed to readjust the proportion of seats between proportional system and first-past-the-post.
“Possibly it will be 55:45 as the communist partners are ready for a 60:40 ratio,” said a participant. The parties have agreed to guarantee all unrepresented groups at least one seat by increasing the seats under the proportional representation system. Home Minister Sitaula claimed no difference persists on the major issues but agreement will be reached only after discussion with all allies in the coalition at Friday’s SPA meet. (more)
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Comments
10 responses to “The Great Talks About New Agreement”
Maoists are trying to get whatever they can in the cabinet. UML is just like as it is always: with no firm stand on issues. It’s just looking if it can get additional portfolios in the cabinet. NC must take a stand and teach some lessons to the commies.
Girija may not live long. That’s why Maoists are demanding the post of Deputy Primeministership. This way, the power comes to their lap as soon as Girija walks to Aryaghat. This is the reason I am proposing to bring back 1990 Constitution in the interim parliament for the amendment.
As mentioned in the Article 116 of the Constitution, it can be amended with the consent of two-thirds of the members. So why don’t we bring this constitution in the Interim Parliament and amend the articles to suit the present political environment? This way we will have the Constitution we want without going through the difficult and expensive process. As soon as the Constitution is amended the Interim Parliament should be dissolved. And election should be held for the President and for the members of the House of Representatives and National Assembly.
Here are my suggestions for the amendments in the 1990 Constitution:
a. Delete the word Royal and His Majesty.
b. Change Prime Minister to President.
c. Change Kingdom to Republic.
d. Delete Part 5: His Majesty.
e. Delete Part 6: Raj Parishad.
f. Delete Part 18: Emergency Power.
g. Amend Part 7: Executive.
35. Executive Power:
The executive power of Nepal shall, pursuant to this Constitution and other laws, be vested in The President and the Council of Ministers.
Any body who garners over fifty percents of vote in the general election shall be The President of Nepal.
The President shall have one term of six years.
37. Ministers and Assistant Ministers:
(1) The President shall appoint Ministers and Assistant Ministers.
(2) The Ministers and Assistant Ministers can not be the member of either the House of Representatives or National Assembly.
45. Constitution of the House of Representatives:
(1) For the purpose of election of members to the House of Representatives, administrative districts shall be treated as election districts and each election districts shall be divided into election constituencies; and one member shall be elected from each election constituency.
(2) Election Constituency shall comprise of 100,000 people.
(3) As far as practical, each election constituency shall consists of various ethnic groups like Magar, Tharu, Tamang, Newar, Rai, Gurung, Limbu, Sherpa and others.
Provided that the number of members to be elected from the districts shall be so determined and election constituency so delimitated as to be elected at least one member from each ethnic group irrespective of its population.
(4) The terms of the members of the House of Representatives shall be two years.
(5) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, election to membership in the House of Representatives shall be held on the basis of one man-one vote through secret ballots in accordance with the provisions of law.
46. Constitution of the National Assembly and the Tenure of Office of Members:
(1) The National Assembly shall consist of seventy five members elected directly by the people from each seventy five districts of Nepal.
(3) The tenure of office of the members of the National Assembly shall be one term of six years.
Maythis agreement will work…………….
By the way, what has happened to blog.com.np????
Who gives the power and authority to do anything to these terorists and killer politicians to do anything about Nepal. Keep watching…
Ok, let’s talk about facts here…
Its been more than two long years since the fall of the “one-man” regeime, but still there is no things as democracy. people are still being kidnapped and yes killed too. the political leaders are jumbled up in I don’t know what.
we don’t care about this new or whatever agreements… all we care about is that there is a situation when we feel safe to live here in our own country
else no use even if there is this new agreement
truth hurts.
Shree Shrestha,
You really are an idiot.
Seconding B, on December 16th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
ALL the fuss over agreement/disagreement is all about getting
a deputy PM for 2-3 months or having sime ministers for 2-3 months.
SHAME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only to have some ministers (Maoists) or to be PM (Makune) they are
holding the nation in the state of anarchy and blocking CA.
Shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Government has no interest in result, they may stabilize this way. Just the country is destabilized. Apart from inner quarrels what was all of this about, helping the poor? Creating jobs? Emancipation of uneducated sectors of populations?
It clearly potrays that these thug leaders of spaM are not serious about CA. The end of their game is coming very near. They will be disappeared after Chaitra. The new government will be formed then, might lead by different ethnic parties supported by international communities. During that time, neither NA will give any support to these thug leaders.