The leader of Nepal’s largest communist party, Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, has been appointed as the Prime Minister following the formation of a new political coalition in the country's tumultuous parliament.

Political Landscape in Nepal

The 72-year-old Oli is set to be sworn in for the fourth time as the Prime Minister, according to an announcement from the president's office on Sunday.

Replacing Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Oli's party, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, has entered into a new partnership with the centre-left Nepali Congress party after Dahal's government collapsed recently.

Now facing the challenge of securing a vote of confidence in parliament within a month, Oli aims to continue in office as the majority of members support the alliance.

Power-Sharing Arrangement

Under the new agreement, Oli and Sher Bahadur Deuba, the president of the Nepali Congress party, will take turns serving as Prime Minister until the upcoming general election in 2027.

Oli, who started his political career as a teenager and endured imprisonment for pro-democracy activities, joined the communist party in 1987 and has steadily advanced within its ranks.

Having previously served as Prime Minister in 2015, he was re-elected in 2018 and briefly resumed the position in 2021 in a parliament marked by frequent changes in leadership over the past decade.

Nepal transitioned to a federal republic in 2008 following a civil war that led to the abolition of the monarchy and the integration of Maoists into politics.

Despite grappling with economic challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on tourism, Nepal's government stability remains a concern in the nation of around 30 million people.

Oli, known for his nationalist stances in a region dominated by China and India, is perceived to have a pro-Beijing inclination.