National
President to promulgate constitution on Sunday
With the endorsement of 57 articles of the Constitution of Nepal 2015 on the second day of voting on the draft on Monday, the Constituent Assembly has said the new charter will be promulgated on Sunday.With the endorsement of 57 articles of the Constitution of Nepal 2015 on the second day of voting on the draft on Monday, the Constituent Assembly has said the new charter will be promulgated on Sunday.
President Ram Baran Yadav will unveil the new constitution amid a public ceremony at 5pm on Sunday, capping a long struggle to have a constitution promulgated through an elected Assembly. Once promulgated, the new charter will institutionalise republicanism, federalism, secularism and inclusiveness—key achievements of political movements since 2006. Though Madhes-based parties have opposed the current draft of the constitution, three major parties have assured that they are open to amendments even after its promulgation.
Vice President, heads of constitutional bodies, and representatives of diplomatic missions will be among the VVIPs in attendance on the occasion. Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Subas Nembang and General Secretary of CA Secretariat Manohar Bhattarai will extend a formal invitation to President Yadav on Tuesday morning to unveil the Constitution.
Nembang was scheduled to meet the President on Monday evening, but the head of state postponed it stating that he will first consult with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on the unveiling ceremony. The President is said to be unhappy with the way the constitution drafting has been rushed, without trying to accommodate the demands of the Madhes-based parties, his aides say the President is bound by the Constitution and will work with the government to promulgate the new statute.
According to CA Rules of Procedures 2014, once the clause-wise voting is completed and draft endorsed, the CA members will put their final signature and the CA chairman will authenticate the constitution bill. The draft constitution has 37 parts, 302 articles and 9 annexes.