KATHMANDU: An abrupt incident that occurred in early September 2025 in Nepal was unprecedented on many levels. A peaceful protest, spearheaded by the country’s Generation Z (Gen Z), evolved into a nationwide outcry against deep-rooted corruption, systemic nepotism, and the controversial ban on social media.

The demonstrations, held on the 8th and 9th of September, culminated in unexpected human casualties and extensive socio-economic damage, sending shockwaves throughout the country’s political landscape.

The gravity of these events prompted the formation of an Interim Government tasked with stabilizing the country, restoring public trust, and conducting the election for members of the House of Representatives on March 5, 2026. However, this clear and sustainable roadmap—specifically, conducting the election on the stated date—remains elusive.

Amidst this uncertainty, a window of opportunity has opened — one where critical reform may be introduced, institutional weaknesses addressed, and the aspirations of a new generation taken seriously.

Key Demands

The protests marked a pivotal moment in Nepal’s modern political history — not only because of their scale but also due to the clarity of Gen-Z’s demands. This generation, born and raised in the post-monarchical, federal democratic era, is no longer willing to accept outdated practices in governance.

Their demands include the establishment of good governance, including investigations of all corruption cases from 1990 to 2025 by a competent and trusted body.

They have called for the elimination of nepotism and favoritism, as reflected in the social media trends against “nepo kids” and “nepo babies.”

They have signaled their interest in an overhaul of the current political system and existing long-standing leadership, and have preferred a directly elected executive model, demanding comprehensive reform of the electoral system. Their concerns include ensuring transparent and merit-based appointments to high-level positions such as judges, commissioners, and ambassadors. Their voices also include calls for a review of the federal structure, particularly the restructuring and distribution of powers between the federal and provincial levels, along with administrative reform.

These demands are both ambitious and constitutionally complex, and responding to them will require careful legal, political, and social institutional maneuvering.

Constitutional Provisions and Legal Constraints

The Constitution of Nepal provides a degree of flexibility for reform but also contains clear limitations in addressing Gen-Z’s demands. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is the designated body to investigate corruption, while adjudication lies with a Special Court. There is no current constitutional provision for an alternative authority to carry out such wide-ranging corruption investigations.

In terms of structural reforms, the constitution requires a two-thirds majority to approve any changes to the form of government, electoral system, and federal structure. Amendments impacting the provincial structure or exclusive provincial powers (as per Schedule 6) require approval from the respective Provincial Assemblies. The constitution does allow for referendums, but only upon approval with a two-thirds majority of the parliament.

These processes, while theoretically feasible, are heavily reliant on the cooperation of established political parties — the very institutions whose legitimacy has been called into question by Gen-Z protesters.

Emerging Challenges in a Volatile Political Climate

The events of September 2025 have placed Nepal’s political status quo under considerable strain. Established political parties, many of whom feel threatened by the scale and popularity of Gen Z’s movement, have shown reluctance to endorse investigations or constitutional amendments that may jeopardize their authority.

Several key challenges lie ahead.

• Political resistance: established leadership is unlikely to support reforms that may lead to their displacement or reduced influence.
• The Interim Government has been given a clear mandate to conduct elections on March 5, 2026, but without full cooperation from political parties, this may not be feasible.
• Continued protests and ideological conflicts between Gen Z and political traditionalists could deepen societal divides. Similarly, differences among Gen Z groups on various issues have also surfaced, which could jeopardize their strength.
• Implementing some of Gen-Z’s demands, such as the direct election of the executive, would require significant constitutional overhauls. If the transition falters or fails, the door may open to authoritarian alternatives — a scenario that would be catastrophic for democratic consolidation.
• Revisiting issues of federalism and secularism could ignite deeper communal or regional tensions, especially without a national consensus. There is a real risk of conflict between rival and progressive forces, reminiscent of the decade-long domestic violence in the country.

Building a Constructive Roadmap: Immediate and Medium-Term Steps

To stabilize the political environment and move toward meaningful reform, Nepal must embrace a carefully coordinated and inclusive strategy. The Interim Government must demonstrate impartiality and competence, creating a perception of legitimacy across all demographic and political lines.

To address the damage caused during the protest, a transparent and independent body should be formed to investigate the events of September 2025, including loss of life, property damage, and underlying grievances.

Financial and technical support, and resource mobilization from development partners, will be crucial to implement systemic reforms and ensure a credible electoral process. Launching an inclusive, multi-stakeholder dialogue on constitutional amendments — especially regarding electoral reform, federal competencies, and leadership structures — is essential.

Since there is almost a common understanding among Gen-Z and political intellectuals that there should be constitutional reform after the election, dialogue on these issues should be initiated at the civil society, Gen-Z, and political party levels.

To ensure good governance, a trusted commission must be established for the investigation of historic corruption cases, without overlapping with the competence of the CIAA.

Robust dialogue among Gen-Z leaders, political parties, civil society, and government bodies should be institutionalized through town hall meetings, one-on-one dialogues, public interactions via media, working groups, and policy forums.

Clear structures should be developed to include Gen-Z in political discourse — whether through advisory roles, youth assemblies, or integration into party reform processes.

The Question of a Timely Election: Possibility, Pitfalls, and Consequences

Despite the uncertainties, there are several positive indicators regarding the election. The Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) has committed to the scheduled timeline. The Ministry of Finance has confirmed the availability of necessary resources. Most political parties have signaled interest in the election.

However, significant challenges could derail the process, such as continued agitation from both Gen-Z and traditional parties, unmet expectations of Gen-Z, leadership disputes within political parties, and the fallout from corruption probes and September’s events, which could distract from or delegitimize the electoral process.

If these risks are not addressed, the election may either be postponed or result in outcomes unacceptable to large segments of the population, particularly the youth.

Role of Civil Society: The Contribution of NLS and GEOC

Civil society organizations like the Nepal Law Society (NLS) and the General Election Observation Committee (GEOC) have a critical role to play in facilitating this transition. The NLS and GEOC have observed several elections in the past.

The NLS, in particular, has supported the constitution-making process by providing an independent forum for dialogue on pertinent issues, policy guidance, and capacity development. In the current context, their contributions could include:

• Supporting coordination mechanisms among Gen-Z, political parties, and the government
• Supporting electoral preparations through legal advice, technical expertise, and observation
• Promoting public dialogue through workshops, interactions, and publications
• Advising on constitutional reforms, including drafting model amendments
• Monitoring corruption, ensuring transparency, and promoting public trust
• Mediating conflicts and preventing escalation through peaceful negotiation platforms

These organizations can serve as neutral venues bridging competing forces, supporting both legal integrity and democratic aspirations.

Conclusion: From Crisis to Opportunity

Nepal stands at a critical juncture in its democratic evolution. The Gen-Z protests have not only exposed long-standing governance failures, but also ignited a national conversation on constitutional and governance reform, and the future of leadership.

This era presents an opportunity to establish a people-centric, democratic, accountable, transparent, and ethical governance system.

The Interim Government, political parties, civil society, and international partners must now seize this moment — not to suppress dissent, but to channel it constructively.

By embracing transparency, accountability, and inclusivity, Nepal can emerge from this period not only with a renewed political mandate but also with stronger democratic foundations for a prosperous future.

(Pradhan is Chief Executive Director of the Nepal Law Society and Secretary General of the General Election Observation Committee – GEOC)