KATHMANDU, Nov 29: Former Water Resources Minister Deepak Gyawali has cautioned that implementing a directly elected executive presidential system could prove “disastrous” for Nepal.
Speaking at an event organized by ‘Gen Z Alliance for Monarchy’ in Kathmandu on Saturday, Gyawali claimed that debates around a directly elected executive are a ploy that could push the nation toward authoritarianism.
He warned that such a system might produce leaders akin to Lendup Dorje and Volodymyr Zelensky, describing the idea as a dangerous experiment. “A directly elected executive in a country as fragile as Nepal could result in nothing but leaders like Lendup Dorje or Zelensky,” he said.
Directly elected executive system the only solution
Gyawali also criticized the current political leadership, accusing former Prime Ministers KP Sharma Oli and Sher Bahadur Deuba of weakening the country through their governance styles. Highlighting the authoritarian tendencies already visible under the indirect electoral system, he warned that direct election of executive powers could exacerbate the situation.
“When we see what happened under the indirect system—look at Oli and Deuba—imagine what could have happened under a direct election. They could have endangered the very existence of the country,” he said, adding that direct election would leave no one to check unilateral decisions.
He emphasized that strengthening democratic values and institutions, rather than changing the system of governance, is essential for political stability in Nepal. “What we need is separation of powers and a balanced system. A directly elected executive does not bring stability—it breeds authoritarianism,” Gyawali said.
He urged robust debate against this agenda, warning that failure to do so could put Nepal’s very existence at risk.
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