Nepal Cabinet adopts agreement to abolish monarchy

Nepal Cabinet today adopted the agreement signed by the top leaders of the six ruling parties and the Maoists to declare the country federal democratic republic subject to implementation by the first meeting of the elected Constituent Assembly.

Kathmandu, Dec 24 : Nepal Cabinet today adopted the agreement signed by the top leaders of the six ruling parties and the Maoists to declare the country federal democratic republic subject to implementation by the first meeting of the elected Constituent Assembly.

The Constituent Assembly elections are scheduled in mid-April next year.

The Cabinet meeting was held today at Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's residence in Baluwatar.

The seven parties on Sunday night sealed a 22-point deal, which also included that the Maoists would rejoin the government, bringing an end to two-month long political crisis in the country.

Maoist ministers had resigned from the interim government on September 18 in protest against Koirala-led government's lukewarm response to their demands for declaring the Himalayan nation as a "republic" and a fully proportional electoral system for the Constituent Assembly election.

The deal provides for 60-40 allocations for proportional and direct election. Out of the 601 total seats of the Constituent Assembly, 335 has been set aside for proportional representation, 240 for direct election and 26 will be nominated by the Cabinet.

Now, a bill incorporating these agreements will be presented at the parliament to bring about the third amendment in the interim Constitution.

The parties have agreed to let the government decide on the date, about mid-April 2008, for the poll to elect the Constituent Assembly.

The deal also states that a constitutional provision will be inserted stating that Prime Minister will be the officiating head of state till the Constituent Assembly makes final decision.

ANI