« Back to Provision

Executive Branch Reform – 2008

After the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections took place in April 2008, the CA was convened on 28th of May. The first session of the CA voted by 560 votes to 4 to end a 239-year-old monarchy and to implement in its place a federal democratic republic. At the same time, a fourth amendment to the constitution created the post of President and Vice President. The former king agreed to the CA’s decision and left the palace on 11 June after organizing a press conference.¹

The interim constitution was further amended, (by the Fifth Amendment), on 25 June. This amendment indicated that the President would be elected by a simple majority if a consensus could not be reached.² When consensus could not be established among the political parties, the Assembly elected the Nepali Congress Candidate Dr. Ram Baran Yadev. This was done with the support of the UML and MPRF, as well as the NC, on 21 July. According to the constitution, the president assumed the role of the head of the state.³

These changes in the executive branch of the government, however, were only temporary as the final reform had yet to be materialized through the promulgation of the new constitution due to be announced on 28 May 2010.

1. “Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,” United Nations (S/2008/454), July 10, 2008.
2. “Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,” United Nations (S/2008/670), October 24, 2008.
3. Ibid.