The lawmakers from the ruling party admitted that the country cannot move ahead adopting the existing parliamentary system which reflects old mindset and character, but said that an improved parliamentary system is the only way to ensure political stability and accountable government.

NC leaders seemed ready to improve the parliamentary system after the UCPN (Maoist), Madhes-based parties and CPN-UML lawmakers pointed out several flaws in the parliamentary system that the country adopted after 1990.  Improved parliamentary system means establishing a new improved parliamentary mechanism by incorporating various provisions in the constitution without departing from the tenets of parliamentary system, NC lawmakers said.   

Expressing their opinions in the full House on forms of governance, the lawmakers from the ruling party confessed that there were several flaws in the existing parliamentary system, and said those flaws need to be corrected while drafting a new constitution.  

“For improved parliamentary system, we can incorporate a provision in the constitution allowing the parties to file no-confidence motion against the prime minister after two years of his tenure. There should also be the provision of the parties requiring to announce the name of new prime minister when they file the no-confidence motion against the prime minister. These measures will ensure a stable government,” said NC lawmaker Shekhar Koirala.

He also proposed formation of committees inside the Parliament to monitor the activities of the government and to ensure the government is accountable to the people.  

The existing system holds that any party with the support of one-third of lawmakers in the House can register no confidence motion against the prime minister.

Commenting on the system of directly elected president, as proposed by the UCPN (Maoist) and the Madhes-based parties, the NC lawmakers said such a system cannot represent the aspirations of various religious and ethnic groups in the country. They also expressed fear that a directly elected president can turn into a dictator.

“The directly elected president cannot represent national unity and cannot accommodate the diversity of the country,” said NC lawmaker Bal Krishna Khan.

In the full House CA which is currently deliberating on forms of governance, the UCPN (Maoist) and Madhes-based parties are advocating for directly elected president. CPN-UML is pushing for directly elected prime minister, though some of the party’s lawmakers are positive on NC’s proposal of improved parliamentary system.  

The main opposition, UCPN (Maoist), argues the parliamentary system cannot ensure political stability because it entails frequent government changes.