Miscellaneous
Won’t resign, will face House: Oli to his MPs
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who faces the challenge of proving his majority in Parliament following a no-confidence motion registered against him, is in no mood to step down. Rather, he is riding on what he calls “constitutional complexities” to buy time.Anil Giri
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who faces the challenge of proving his majority in Parliament following a no-confidence motion registered against him, is in no mood to step down. Rather, he is riding on what he calls “constitutional complexities” to buy time.
At a Parliamentary Party (PP) meeting of the CPN-UML on Thursday, Oli told party lawmakers that constitutional complexities will prevent the formation of a new government, according to leaders.
Citing Article 298 of the constitution, PM Oli insisted on facing the House instead of resigning.
At Thursday’s PP meeting, Oli briefed his parliamentarians about the latest political situation after the Maoist Centre withdrew its support to the coalition. He told the lawmakers that “as per Article 298 of the constitution, [the government] will remain until next parliamentary elections take place”.
Article 298 of the constitution says “the Council of Ministers existing at the time of commencement of this constitution shall remain until the transformed Legislature-Parliament constitutes a new Council of Ministers”.
On Wednesday, Oli held a meeting with Attorney General Hari Phuyal to discuss legal and constitutional provisions about the government formation.
“PM Oli will not resign but will face no-confidence motion in Parliament,” said Minister for Information and Communication Sher Dhan Rai after the PP meeting, adding that the meeting also concluded that the Maoist Centre decision to withdraw support to the government was “unfortunate” and that the move “would be detrimental to the country”.
According to Minister for Industry Som Prasad Pandey, PM Oli also hinted that “some foreign forces” had played a role in forcing the Maoist Centre to pull out of the left coalition.
“The Maoist Centre acted according to the orders from foreign forces and pulled out of the government. This is as clear as day,” PM Oli is learnt to have told his lawmakers. “The Maoists betrayed us at a time when we were moving in the direction of implementing the constitution.”
Sources, however, said the UML itself is a divided house regarding PM Oli’s resignation, as some individuals within his own party believe he should step down. But Thursday’s PP meeting was more about Oli speaking rather than lawmakers airing their views, added sources.
- The Council of Ministers existing at the time of commencement of this Constitution shall remain until the transformed Legislature-Parliament constitutes a new Council of Ministers
- At least one-fourth members of the Legislature -Parliament can move a motion of vote of no confidence against the prime minister at the Legislature-Parliament
- As per Article 298 (13) of the constitution, if Parliament does not have confidence on the prime minister, one fourth of the total number of Members of Parliament will be able to submit no-confidence motion in writing
- The prime minister will be relieved of his position automatically if the no-confidence motion is passed by a majority of the then total members of the Legislature-Parliament