Nepal's Government recommends two ordinances to President for issuance

Nepals Government has recommended two ordinances to President Ram Chandra Paudel for issuance related to cooperatives and the Constitutional Council, drawing flak from the opposition. Reacting to the governments decision, the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, said its attention has been drawn to the governments move to introduce the ordinance by suspending the Parliament session.

Nepal's Government has recommended two ordinances to President Ram Chandra Paudel for issuance related to cooperatives and the Constitutional Council, drawing flak from the opposition. A Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Monday took a decision to recommend the ordinances, according to sources. The government has also forwarded the ordinances to the President Paudel's Office for consideration. The cabinet last week had recommended to the President to summon a session of the federal parliament scheduled for April 30. However, later, the government recommended the postponement of the session. The latest move to introduce ordinances comes amid preparations for constitutional appointments. The Constitutional Council, which recommends such appointments, consists of six members: the Prime Minister, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairperson of the National Assembly, Deputy Speaker, Chief Justice, and the Leader of the Opposition. With the recent selection of Bhishmaraj Angdembe as the parliamentary party leader of the Nepali Congress, the council is now complete. Reacting to the government's decision, the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, said its attention has been drawn to the government's move to introduce the ordinance by suspending the Parliament session. Nepali Congress spokesperson Devraj Chalise said it would not be appropriate from the point of view of the constitutional process and parliamentary norms. The ordinance related to the constitutional council, if endorsed by the president, paves the way for the government to make appointments at key constitutional positions, such as the Chief Justice, that have remained vacant.