KATHMANDU:  Prime Minister (PM) Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has emphasized the need for consensus among major political parties to address governance challenges.

During a discussion program organized by the Institute for Strategic and Socio-Economic Research (ISSR) in Kathmandu, Prime Minister Dahal addressed the question of good governance posed by former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha.

PM Dahal stated that while the major political parties initially agreed on the constitution and national consensus in 2007, it was unfortunate that this consensus has since been broken.

Despite this setback, PM Dahal emphasized that efforts for national consensus are ongoing to ensure that no political forces feel marginalized or isolated.

He added that those who oppose the constitution have been attempting to prevent major parties from uniting.

Prime Minister Dahal discussed the importance of national consensus, especially following the 2015 devastating earthquake, when it became essential to work together to provide relief, rescue, and reconstruction for the affected populations.

“When I wanted to move things forward in my own way, staying stagnant due to obstacles was not an option. Politically, I’m guided by the belief that accelerating progress based on a solid foundation is in the nation’s and people’s best interest,” he stated.

He also outlined the government’s efforts to create an environment of trust for foreign investors by amending necessary laws through an ordinance before the investment conference.

“When we achieved the goal of creating a constitution based on mutual understanding and agreement, we also agreed to govern together for a period of time to implement the constitution,” PM Dahal asserted at the program.

After the Constituent Assembly drafted the constitution, PM Dahal went on to add, “We faced the challenge of its implementation. To navigate this stage, consensus was essential. Without it, implementation difficulties and public dissatisfaction were likely.”

According to him, unfortunately, the parties couldn’t adhere to the initial agreement as planned.

“Following the constitution’s announcement, I proposed that major parties should reach a consensus on selecting the president, prime minister, and other key positions,” he added.

Despite the agreement, competition for the prime ministership emerged, leading us back to traditional practices, he said.

According to him, there were internal factions against the principles of a republic, federalism, inclusion, and proportionality.

He further stated that external forces also sought to prevent political parties from understanding each other. This ongoing process has made us victims of division.

The tendency for political parties to engage in unhealthy competition persists instead of fostering mutual understanding, the Prime Minister said.

PM Dahal said in order to avoid isolating any political power, it was important to include key positions like the President, Prime Minister, and Speaker.

This approach fosters political stability, he said adding, “That’s why the Nepali Congress, the largest party in the last election, got the post of the President.”

He went on to state that accusations of instability are inevitable, as some question the fluidity of political positions.

“My goal is to maintain national consensus and ensure all political forces are engaged,” he added.

According to him, certain aspects relate to good governance, economic development, and prosperity. Differing perspectives exist.

The parliament has adjourned, and the upcoming investment conference necessitates revising laws that international donor organizations and the private sector have identified as obstacles to investment in Nepal, he stated.

According to him, monetary and financial policies also sparked fundamental disagreements.

“When I wanted to move things forward in my own way, staying stagnant due to obstacles was not an option. Politically, I’m guided by the belief that accelerating progress based on a solid foundation is in the nation’s and people’s best interest,” he stated.

He also recalled his address to the House saying, “In the parliament, I mentioned that despite undergoing three confidence votes, the prime minister remains the same, and the government continues.”

Given the significance of the prime minister’s role in this system, maintaining continuity of the government under the same leadership is reasonable, he claimed.

“When I became Prime Minister for the third time, I prioritized good governance, social justice, and economic prosperity as the core objectives of the government,” PM Dahal said adding, “My focus aligns with the foundational principles of the constitution, centered on the three-pillar economy.”

He added, “Additionally, we have adopted a socialist-oriented state approach in the constitution. This informs our commitment to good governance, social justice, and economic prosperity in daily government operations. I am working towards harmonizing these aspects.”

From the outset, he said, “I was committed to ensuring good governance through action, not just rhetoric.”

He claimed that the government has taken decisive initial steps to address various injustices, including the fake Bhutanese refugees, Lalita residence land, gold smuggling, citizenship, and social security issues.

“These initiatives tie into good governance, social justice, and prosperity, closely aligning with the constitution’s intent and purpose,” he stated adding that progress in these areas has given hope to a segment of the population, creating an atmosphere of anticipation.

He further said that the government is actively coordinating with the Nepal Rastra Bank, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Planning Commission to harmonize monetary and financial policies.

“Efforts are being made to bridge the gap between the private and public sectors to mitigate the economic challenges we face,” he said.

Numerous meetings and discussions have taken place at Singha Durbar with the goal of strengthening cooperation between the private and public sectors, according to him.

He maintained that the government believes that amending the law to attract the private sector and conducting an investment conference to engage both domestic and international investors are essential for advancing development and prosperity in Nepal.

“Consequently, we are taking steps to achieve this,” he said.

He also claimed that the government has finalized the process of amending laws to enhance cooperation between the private and public sectors.

“When we listen to the policy program, we aim to inspire hope among the people. If the budget aligns with the policy, it can help build trust,” he noted.

The parliament has adjourned, and the upcoming investment conference necessitates revising laws that international donor organizations and the private sector have identified as obstacles to investment in Nepal, he stated.

According to him, instructions have been issued to government secretaries, and there is general agreement on the need for good work without opposition.

“An ordinance has been proposed to instill confidence in investors attending the conference. These preparations are ongoing,” he noted.

On the issue of implemting the constitution, he said although the constitution was promulgated in 2015, the political coordination council, crucial for maintaining coordination between the center, provinces, and local levels for constitution implementation, has not met as per constitutional interpretation.

“Since my tenure, we have held the first meeting in Pokhara and the second in Kathmandu,” he claimed.

“However, despite the constitution’s announcement, we have yet to fulfill the promise of governing the state through agreement between political parties for a few years,” he explained.

“We are progressing with the process of drafting and amending necessary laws. Since the constitution’s announcement, we have amended it three times, maintaining a door open for continuous revision to accommodate political issues,” PM Dahal stated.

According to hhim, to implement the various values and rights established by the Constitution of Nepal, various laws have been enacted and are being applied.

It is imperative to drive the nation forward on the path of good governance and development by fully implementing these laws, he added.

PM Dahal further stated that as Nepal transitions into a Federal Democratic Republic, significant changes are necessary in the political and legal landscapes.

“The government is continuously working towards this transformation,” PM Dahal stated.

Nonetheless, federal laws in line with national resolutions and requirements have yet to be enacted.

Therefore, the government is preparing to proceed with certain reforms in the next year’s policies, programs, and budget, ensuring close dialogue with all political parties represented in parliament, according to the Prime Minister.

“My goal in this process is to present the upcoming policy program and budget differently, aiming to meet public expectations,” he claimed adding that the policy program must avoid unnecessary and populist elements and communicate positively in a way that the public can understand.

He stated that one major issue we have faced in the past is that the government creates policy programs each year that the president reads, but often these policies are not followed through.

The Ministry of Finance creates the budget, which then gets passed on. The policy program sets forth one approach, while the budget often contradicts it. This lack of harmony between policy and budget has led to frustration.

The process was conducted as fairly as possible, given the current circumstances, and was based on the principle of meritocracy, according to him.

It’s important to limit policy programs to what is achievable, and the budget should support these programs, he noted.

The Ministry of Finance needs to take ownership of the policy program and commit to its implementation.

“When we listen to the policy program, we aim to inspire hope among the people. If the budget aligns with the policy, it can help build trust,” he noted.

Saying “business as usual” doesn’t inspire hope in the country. Taking new steps can instill hope that something will happen now, he added.

He further added that the government is taking financial and monetary policy seriously and implementing improvements to enhance the economy.

These adjustments have led to improvements in economic indicators, both internally and externally.

The budget for the next financial year will be realistic and implementable, focusing on economic improvement, productivity, employment, social justice, and good governance, according to him.

This time, the government’s policies and programs will be discussed with people’s representatives, industrialists, intellectuals, and the general public. The government believes that breaking people’s despair can foster hope and trust.

On the issue of corruption PM Dahal said that corruption control is vital for the overall development of the country, as it safeguards citizens’ interests and maintains good governance.

“The government is dedicated to empowering agencies involved in corruption control with laws, human resources, and tools,” he said.

The government is committed to curbing corruption and ensuring ethical conduct, as well as investigating and taking legal action against corruption across all sectors and periods, he said.

To translate the state’s policy of controlling corruption and upholding good governance into practice, continuous coordination, collaboration, and cooperation with all levels of government, the private sector, civil society, media, and ordinary citizens are essential.

The government is providing the necessary leadership and coordination.

According to him, the law is a fundamental means of ensuring good governance in the country. The state system operates effectively only with the successful implementation of the law.

He further claimed that the government is paying serious attention to areas such as financial and banking governance, justice, development project implementation, job creation, service delivery, and education.

“We need to reflect on these issues, as addressing them will create a new situation of good governance and prosperity in the country. The government believes that the positive contributions of all individuals active in policy, research, and other fields will be crucial to achieving this,” he concluded.

It is also focusing on the implementation of the constitution and exploring solutions to ensure good governance in these areas.

“To address the chaos in the education sector, I announced that I would begin appointing vice-chancellors and other officers based on merit at the university level,” he said.

The process was conducted as fairly as possible, given the current circumstances, and was based on the principle of meritocracy, according to him.

Improving Tribhuvan University is essential to enhancing the overall education sector.

According to him, the measure of good governance is reflected in the quality, timeliness, and efficiency of services provided by the state to its citizens.

“The government is working to implement standards that make service delivery faster and more technologically efficient, and complete tasks within specified timeframes and quality levels. From the outset, I aimed to shorten long queues at service administration offices, and now the process is much simpler,” he said.

He also stated that a growing number of young Nepalis are leaving the country, which is concerning.

This trend can and should be fundamentally addressed by initiating a new journey toward good governance, development, and prosperity.

“However, I have also emphasized the weakening of moral education, patriotic feeling, and national thinkin,” PM Dahal said adding, “It’s not just a lack of jobs that drives people abroad. The erosion of national spirit and moral values has contributed to the trend of young people seeking opportunities abroad. We must collectively work to change this mindset.”

“What kind of culture allows someone earning Rs 100,000 per month in Nepal to spend Rs 100,000,000 to emigrate through risky routes like Mexico? Did they leave due to a lack of jobs? This requires further examination and explanation,” he raised concern.

“We need to reflect on these issues, as addressing them will create a new situation of good governance and prosperity in the country. The government believes that the positive contributions of all individuals active in policy, research, and other fields will be crucial to achieving this,” he concluded.