Nepal’s youngest prime minister, who had previously released a rap song, has been sworn in

This is reported by Al Jazeera, citing the AP and Reuters.

Balendra Shah was appointed prime minister by President Ram Chandra Paudel on Friday. His party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party, which is only three years old, won 182 seats in the 275-seat parliament in the 5 March election.

These were the first elections following the youth-led protests that toppled the government in September. Seventy-six people died during those demonstrations.

Shah, 35, has become Nepal’s youngest prime minister. At the ceremony at the presidential residence in Kathmandu, he wore black trousers, a dark jacket, a traditional black Nepalese hat and sunglasses. Diplomats and senior officials attended the inauguration.

What is known about the rap song and the political context

The day before taking the oath of office, the new prime minister, better known as Balen, released his first public statement since the election on social media in the form of a rap song, ‘Jay Mahakaali’. In it, he spoke, in particular, about the unity of the country.

The song includes lyrics stating that Nepal is not afraid this time, and that laughter and happiness will come to every home. The lyrics also include the line: “The power of unity is my national strength”.

The music video, featuring footage of large crowds cheering Shah during the election campaign, has garnered nearly three million views.

Balendra Shah was previously mayor of the capital, Kathmandu, and also became Nepal’s first prime minister from the Madhesi community – the inhabitants of the southern plains bordering India.

Protests have erupted across the country over a lack of jobs and chronic corruption. In Nepal, with a population of 30 million, around a fifth of people live in poverty, and approximately 1,500 people leave the country every day to work abroad.

Although Shah did not directly participate in the protests, he publicly supported the demonstrators, who were predominantly from Generation Z.

Political instability remains one of the country’s main problems. Since 1990, Nepal has seen 32 governments, none of which has completed a full five-year term.

The Nepali Congress, the country’s oldest party, came second in parliament with just 38 seats. The Communist Party of Nepal, led by K. P. Sharma Oli, who resigned following the Gen Z protests, secured 25 seats.

During the transitional period leading up to the parliamentary elections, the country was led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki.

As a reminder, a new minority coalition government has taken office in the Netherlands, led by 38-year-old Robert Jetten, who has become the youngest prime minister in the country’s history. The cabinet was sworn in by King Willem-Alexander.