The United States is congratulating the people of Nepal for conducting a "successful" election last month and on the creation of a new coalition government led by a three-time prime minister.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who also goes by Prachanda, was appointed prime minister after November elections resulted in a hung parliament, Al-Jazeera reported Dec. 25. Prachanda will head the new government until 2025, half of the five-year term, in a deal struck with the opposition communist Unified Marxist-Leninist and others, according to the Al-Jazeera report.
"The United States congratulates the people of Nepal on a successful democratic election," U.S. Sec. of State Antony Blinken said in the State Department (DOS) statement, "and Pushpa Kamal Dahal and coalition partners on their formation of a new government."
Blinken also congratulated Nepal in a Dec. 27 post to Twitter, writing that the U.S. "supports Nepal’s democratic process and looks forward to working together to build on our robust and longstanding ties."
One person was killed and two were wounded during the violence-marred elections held Nov. 20, the Associated Press reported at the time. Fifteen polling places were closed and voting was forced to be repeated in those locations days later, according to the AP report. Turnout, at 61%, was also lower than expected, the report states.
Prachanda replaces Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress party, Al-Jazeera reports. A former Maoist rebel leader, Prachanda served as prime minister in 2008-09 and again in 2016-17, according to the report.
"Nepal’s commitment to democracy is an example to countries around the world," Blinken said in the DOS statement. "We look forward to supporting Nepal as it continues to deepen its democratic traditions in accordance with the will of the Nepali people."
