Parliamentary debate on Nepal monarchy put off for two weeks

South Asia News

Oct 16, 2007, 9:09 GMT

Kathmandu - Nepal's political parties in the coalition government postponed a key parliamentary debate on the future of the monarchy by two weeks amid continuing differences, official reports said Tuesday.

State owned Nepal Television reported that the six parties in the interim government and the Maoists decided to postpone the debate in the special session of parliament in an effort to seek 'consensus' on the issue.

'Although the date for the debate has been pushed back, parties will continue their discussions and hope they can find a common point of agreement,' the television quoted Jhalanath Khanal of the moderate Communist Party of Nepal - Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) as saying.

The special session has not convened since the Maoist former rebels tabled a proposal to declare the country a republic on Thursday, the first day of the session.

However, the proposal has been opposed by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's Nepali Congress on grounds that the issue can only be settled by a constituent assembly elected by the people.

The difference between the two parties is threatening the fragile alliance of seven parties that includes the Maoists.

CPN-UML is leading efforts to avoid a vote in parliament and urging parties to settle the issue through consensus. However, the series of meetings has resulted in failure.

The party says if the issue is put to vote in the 329-member interim parliament, the Maoist proposal will be defeated resulting in the break-up of the alliance and pushing the country back into disarray.

The Maoists walked out of the government in September after coalition members rejected their demands and has led to the postponement of elections in November that would have chosen the constituent assembly.

On Monday, Maoist renewed their calls on political parties to meet their demands or face a series of street protests and closures.