In a ceremony held in Kathmandu, Khadga Prasad Oli, the leader of Nepal's largest communist party, took the oath of office as the country's prime minister. This marks Oli's fourth term as prime minister of Nepal, following the collapse of the previous coalition government.
Accompanying Oli, two deputy prime ministers and 19 ministers also took the oath of office. Oli is expected to further expand the Cabinet to include members from coalition partner parties.
At 72 years old, Oli will be leading a coalition government comprising his Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) and the Nepali Congress party, the two major political parties in Nepal.
The previous government, led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, fell apart on Friday when Oli's party withdrew its support to form a new alliance. Oli will need to seek a vote of confidence in parliament within a month to continue in office, with the new alliance having more than enough members to prove their majority.
One of Oli's primary challenges as prime minister will be managing Nepal's relationships with neighboring giants India and China, both of which seek influence over the landlocked nation. Nepal shares borders with both countries and heavily relies on India for imports, including oil and essential supplies.
Born in a village in eastern Nepal, Oli has a long history in politics, having been actively involved since his youth. He rose through the ranks of the communist party, enduring a total of 14 years in jail for opposing the autocratic rule of Nepal's monarchs. Nepal transitioned into a constitutional monarchy in 1990 after street protests forced then-King Birendra to hold free elections. The monarchy was formally abolished in 2008.
Oli, who has undergone two kidney transplants, brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of Nepal's political landscape to his role as prime minister.
