By Shanker Man Singh
Much of politics is about deciding where compromises can be made without violating moral standards or campaign promises. As in any big family, there are differences in political goals and values. Compromise is the best way to resolve these differences when people have equal power. Otherwise either nothing is done or someone uses force or threats to get their way.
Let us analyze the coalition government in Nepal consisting of Nepali Congress and UML.
Here is an analysis of their alliance:
A coalition bringing together two major parties is expected to potentially provide stability and continuity in governance. The Nepali Congress and UML have considerable voter support in various regions of Nepal. In the last election, the Nepali Congress was the first party and UML was the second party.
At a glance, the government and the party that should be in the opposition are getting together, which usually does not happen anywhere in the world experience.
Both parties have experience in governing and managing complex political situations.
NC and UML have different ideological backgrounds, which can lead to internal conflicts. Their policy preferences may differ, which affects decision-making and implementation.
Frequent changes in alliances over the past few years indicate underlying instability.
Alliances can focus on economic growth, infrastructure development and poverty reduction.
Nepal’s democracy can be strengthened by addressing constitutional issues and ensuring inclusiveness.
Alliances can enhance diplomatic relations and attract foreign investment.
Factionalism within parties can undermine the effectiveness of coalitions. Geopolitical tensions, natural disasters and regional conflicts pose risks.
Meeting citizens’ expectations is important for good governance. Political dynamics can change rapidly, so monitoring developments is essential.
NC and UML have agreed to form a government of national consensus. Recently NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba and UML chair KP Sharma Oli have made it public that the Memorandum of Understanding has been signed.
It has been agreed to improve elections, government systems, etc. and to form a government of national consensus under the leadership of UML. According to the agreement, the NC and UML will lead the government turn by turn for the remaining term of Parliament.
In the first phase, the government of national consensus will be led by UML chair Oli. After that, it has been agreed that NC president Deuba will lead.
The seven-point agreement has been signed between the two parties.
The agreement was signed after the NC leaders assured that the new government would be formed according to Article 76(2).
The seven-point agreement:
- Oli will be the PM for two years, and then after, Deuba will lead the election government.
- Leadership in 3/3 places in province governments. In Madhes, it will be given to the Madhes-centric party.
- Amend the constitution and bring proportional MPs to the National Assembly. Making the Vice President the Speaker of the Assembly.
- To reconsider the number of seats in both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.
- Increasing the number of wards by reducing the number of municipalities.
- A committee will be formed under the leadership of former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha to revise the constitution.
- To remove the proportional representation in the provincial assembly and keep only directly elected.
A coalition is defined as an act of association between a group of individuals who share a common set of values or a shared vision.
Political alliances have adapted the meaning of alliance to mean temporary alliances for joint action but still promote growth with common goals for the greater good of their constituents.
Unlike previous coalitions, this time the partners of the Grand Alliance will also come to a common minimum program. Coalition governments around the world are always weak and less decisive.
Compromise and tolerance is the general creed of most coalition governments where accommodation and acceptance of narrow needs is preferred over national needs. But since this is an alliance of different ideologies, something is to be expected.
Weaknesses of the coalition government are evident not only in Nepal but all over the world.
The federal structure is compromised: Coalition governments are by definition a group of disparate parties that cannot form a single-party government.
This is a big challenge of who will lead. We have seen Chief Ministers change so as to fulfill personal agendas. We must ensure that individual regional party agendas are not allowed to dictate the course of our nation.
In the neighboring country, former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, when asked about the telecom scams, remarked that he led a coalition government and was therefore unable to do anything. When faced with a challenge that suits one party and not the nation, there is no choice but to compromise with the leader.
There is also an opinion whether it is the reason of Giri Bandhu in Nepal and sending people abroad.
To meet widely differing fiscal demands from their coalition partners, governments are known to compromise on fiscal discretion.
It is common to see high rates of inflation and high fiscal deficits leading to serious structural flaws in the national economy.
Promises are made with a purpose to keep them. Voters need clear accountability so they can ask their leaders to keep their election promises. Alliance partners always have a credible excuse for not fulfilling their promises.
Corruption is also seen as an acceptable practice to serve the needs of various political parties .
State-controlled subjects such as health and education are an example. Everyone has unanimously agreed that health and education need everyone’s attention.
We can see the huge disparity that exists across states. Why do our politicians believe that all people are not equal and that some states have good health and education while others do not? The same applies to other areas devolved for governance at the state level.
Given the 5-year duration of elections and the short duration of coalition agreements, political parties know that they have a short window to maximize economic benefits for their respective groups.
World politics is changing from a borderless world to a borderless world. Only strong countries with strong leaders will be able to create a space in this new world that respects strong economies and strong defense capabilities.
While dozens of people believe they can lead the nation better than others in a coalition, each has their own ideologies. Hence, decision-making making even on simple matters requires everyone’s support which slows down the decision making process.
Coalition governments are fragile and always walk on thin ice, never knowing when a crack might appear. They are supported by groups of individuals who have no common ideology. The first step is to start making statements against the coalition, the next is to create resentment and the last step is to withdraw support which ensures that the house of cards collapses.
There have been and continue to be many examples of governments hanging on to their values or compromising their values.
Can Nepal allow weak, unstable and selfish alliance leaders to have their own personal and private agendas to run this nation and lose all the important achievements we have seen in the last 5 years?
After 5 years of local government in the country, according to the constitution of Nepal, the second phase of provincial and representative assembly elections were held.
Despite the recent rapid developments and chatter on social media, there were no clear signs of any top-level political maneuvering. But according to many sources, it is clear that Oli, who was removed from power in 2021 after the order of the Supreme Court, was proposed by NC as the prime minister.
It is reported that Deuba and Oli have agreed to form a government of national consensus to address contemporary issues such as the implementation of the constitution and economic challenges.
It is said that Oli was repeatedly consulting within the party about the NC proposal saying that the country cannot move forward in the current situation.
It is said that Oli is dissatisfied with the actions of the Dahal-led government, including the recently passed budget, which he claims was brought without consultation with the coalition.
Especially since his closest rival Nepali Congress has offered him the post of PM, it might have been difficult for him to take an immediate decision.
It has become public knowledge that the main agenda of such a government will be to amend the constitution, change the current electoral system and remove some clauses from the constitution.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect People’s Review’s editorial stance.
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