Nepal: First phase of general elections on November 26

Event

The first phase of Nepal’s general election will take place on Sunday, November 26, in the northern half of the country. The second phase is scheduled on December 7, for the capital Kathmandu and the southern half of the country.

Half a million security forces have been deployed across the country to oversee all 20,000 polling stations, and security measures will be heightened nationwide in an effort to address any potential threats surrounding the election. A series of explosions targeted several candidates in recent weeks; more than 200 anti-poll protesters belonging to a splinter Maoist group were arrested, but none claimed responsibility.

Additionally, all Nepal-India border crossing points will close for 72 hours from the morning of Friday, November 24, through the evening of Sunday, November 26.

Context

The date of Nepal’s general election was decided in mid-August 2017, in a bid to conclude a turbulent journey to democracy a decade after a civil war and the abolition of Nepal’s 239-year-old monarchy. The election’s timing is in line with Nepal’s first constitution, drawn up in 2015, which requires a new parliament to be in place before January 21, 2018.

Advice

Individuals present in Nepal during the electoral period are advised to remain vigilant, to avoid all polling stations, party offices, and public gatherings, and to abide by all instructions issued by the authorities.