Nepal has entered a new and uncertain chapter in its political history after the appointment of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim prime minister, following weeks of anti-corruption protests that shook the Himalayan nation. The unrest, sparked by anger over entrenched corruption and political elites’ excesses, has already left at least 51 people dead and more than 1,300 injured.

The decision, announced by Nepali President Ram Chandra Paudel on September 12, came after intense negotiations between the presidency, leaders of the youth-driven protest movement, and the army, which had deployed troops to the streets of Kathmandu as violent demonstrations engulfed the capital. The political transition comes at the cost of parliament’s dissolution and fresh elections scheduled for March 5, 2026, in a bid to restore political legitimacy and calm public anger.

At 73, Sushila Karki carries a reputation that precedes her. Widely admired for her principled stance against corruption, she is the first woman to serve as Nepal’s interim prime minister. Between 2016 and 2017, she held the role of chief justice, becoming the only woman in the country’s history to head its judiciary. During her tenure, she gained prominence for her uncompromising rulings against graft and nepotism, at a time when corruption was becoming deeply ingrained in Nepal’s political and administrative systems.

Her tenure was not without controversy. In 2017, she faced an impeachment motion brought by lawmakers accusing her of bias. However, the move quickly collapsed amid public outrage and intervention from the Supreme Court, allowing her to serve until she reached the mandatory retirement age of 65. This record of independence and resilience has now returned her to the forefront of Nepal’s political stage, at a moment........

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