Nepal's parliament was dissolved on Friday, just hours after former chief justice Sushila Karki took the oath as the country's interim Prime Minister in the wake of deadly anti-government protests.
The election for a new government is set for March next year.
"On the recommendation of the prime minister, the parliament has been dissolved. The election date is March 5, 2026," Kiran Pokharel, press advisor to the president, told AFP.
Karki was sworn in on Friday as the country's PM to lead a six-month transition to elections, after deadly anti-corruption protests ousted the government. The previous prime minister quit on Tuesday as parliament was set ablaze.
"I, Sushila Karki... take an oath in the name of the country and the people to fulfil my duty as the prime minister," the 73-year-old Karki, Nepal's first woman chief justice, said as she was sworn into office by President Ram Chandra Paudel.
"Congratulations! We wish you success, wish the country success," Paudel said to Karki after the small ceremony in the presidential palace, attended by diplomats and some former leaders.
The Nepal protests
{{/usCountry}}"Congratulations! We wish you success, wish the country success," Paudel said to Karki after the small ceremony in the presidential palace, attended by diplomats and some former leaders.
The Nepal protests
{{/usCountry}}Nepal was plunged into chaos this week after security forces tried to crush rallies by young anti-corruption protesters. At least 51 people were killed in the worst violence in the Himalayan nation since the end of a civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.
The military took back control of the streets on Wednesday, enforcing a curfew.
The appointment of Sushila Karki, known for her independence, comes after two days of intense negotiations by army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel and Paudel, including with representatives from "Gen Z", the loose umbrella title of the youth protest movement.
Thousands of young activists had used the online app Discord to debate the next steps -- and name Karki as their choice of next leader.