Nepal’s new prime minister called for calm and promised reconstruction after social unrest. Domestic and international audiences watched closely to see whether the interim prime minister can change the country’s situation, which has been grappled with for decades.

“We have to work according to the thinking of the ‘Gen Z’ generation,” said Sushila Karki, the new prime minister with a background as one of the country’s Supreme Court Chief Justices, in her first public remarks on 12 September 2025, after being sworn in as the Nepali top executive. Then, Karki noted, “What this group is demanding is the end of corruption, good governance, and economic equality.” She emphasized that her tenure lasts for six months as an interim position. Neighboring countries expressed warm reactions. For example, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already reaffirmed support for Kathmandu soon after Karki’s inauguration as PM, pleading “steadfast support for her efforts to restore peace and stability,” during a phone call with Karki on 18 September 2025.

Restoring “law and order” should be at the top of Prime Minister Karki’s list. While media coverage focuses on the role of “Gen Z” (the youth born in the late 1990s to 2010) in the overthrow of the government, the damage caused by arsonists was significant. Some violent Gen Z mobs stormed into police stations, political parties’ headquarters, and government buildings, including the Supreme Court. According to the New York Times, 60,000 case files were destroyed. (The case files might have included those related to corruption cases, one of the causes of Gen Z’s anger). Such conduct might be unproductive for the crackdown on corruption. As a former Supreme Court judge, PM Karki should restore public safety.

Nepal has been grappling with several crises for the last two decades. After the end of the monarchy in 2008, the Himalayan nation witnessed 13 changes of government. The 2015 earthquake left about 9,000 people dead. While the economy stagnated, corruption persisted among the ruling class. On 4 September 2025, Nepali authorities banned several social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter). The government decision sparked mass protests across the nation and the collapse of the government.

The new prime minister can’t be a magic bullet for the country’s problems. Corruption has taken root in Kathmandu since Birendra Bir Bikram Sha Dev, the country’s then king, permitted the multi-party system in 1991. For long-term stability, regional and domestic actors must prioritize inclusive political dialogue and invest in grassroots reconciliation. When it comes to regional actors, India’s support is crucial. Karki can cooperate with various political forces, including Nepal’s royalists, those who think the restoration of the monarchy might give more stability to the nation than the republican system does. Above all, bringing law and order is square one and experience as the guardian of the law should be utilized.