Nepal’s interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki has convened the first round of discussions between political parties and youth representatives following last month’s violent anti-corruption protests that led to the collapse of the previous government. The unrest, which erupted on September 8-9, was sparked by a temporary social media ban but was fueled by long-standing grievances over economic hardship and systemic corruption. The clashes resulted in at least 73 fatalities and left key government institutions, including parliament and courts, in flames. Karki, a former chief justice appointed as interim leader, emphasized the importance of fostering cooperation and trust in a statement on social media. She stated, ‘We have succeeded in creating an environment of cooperation and trust by ending the state of lack of dialogue.’ The four-hour meeting, attended by major political parties and ‘Gen Z’ representatives, aimed to address the deep public distrust in Nepal’s established parties and prepare for the March 2026 elections. Karki pledged to ensure fair, secure, and timely elections while restoring order and addressing demands for clean governance. The meeting also included representatives from the Communist Party of Nepal – Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), led by ousted former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Ram Rawal, Karki’s media coordinator, noted that the dialogue helped bridge the trust gap between the government, political parties, and the youth. The unrest has further strained Nepal’s fragile economy, with the World Bank reporting that 82% of the workforce is engaged in informal employment and GDP per capita stood at just $1,447 in 2024.