Government’s Report Card

A problem well stated is a problem half solved" goes the adage. In exactly similar manner, Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has clearly stated the problems of the country and duly highlighted the issues he has taken up in the last one year in office.  In an address to the nation on the completion of one year in office, Prime Minister Prachanda  has made frank confession of not being fully able to live up to the expectations of the people and address all pressing problems facing the country in the last one year of his government. His remarks point to the honesty and sincerity to the nation and the people. 

The period of one year is a long time to set the tone for speeding up the actions. At the same time, the one year is not long enough to show concrete results of all ills and evils that have engulfed the nation. But the government has set the direction towards which it seeks to move. It is true that the government has not been able to do what it should have been but it has initiated some positive and praiseworthy steps which need to be well taken of. 

Bouncing economy

The government has identified problems of the country. Now is the time to use right tools to address these problems. The tools include right policies, right action, right time and right persons to handle these issues. It is said ‘if your only tool is a hammer then every problem looks like a nail’. Problem identification is the first step but applying wrong tool to address the problem does not serve the purpose. Prachanda-led government has diagnosed the disease and now needs right prescription and right treatment, which alone can cure the disease. 

The full term of a government, in principle, is five years as per the constitution. In every five year, elections are generally held barring a few exceptions. However, no government has so far completed its full five-year term in Nepal’s modern history. Moreover, the present government is a coalition one as no single party has the working majority in parliament. Thus, coalition government is our fait accompli.  We have adopted a mix of first-past-the post and proportionate electorate system which does not generally allow a single party to win majority seats in parliament to form the single-party government. Thus, different parties have to make compromise to form and give continuity to the government. The present government headed by Prachanda is a coalition of different parties. It is not certain how long this government will last. Thus, the period of one year is sufficient time to set the tone for action-oriented government and it has, to a large extent, taken necessary steps towards right direction. 

Leading a coalition government comprising parties of different ideological and political orientation is definitely not a walk in the park. Prachanda knows this well and is walking tightrope managing diverse interests of coalition partners.  In the last one year of his government, Prachanda has duly managed the coalition partners which, in itself, is an achievement. Otherwise, the country would fall into a cycle of political instability and uncertainty. 

Over the last one year, we have seen some visible changes in various sectors. When the present government was formed, country’s economy was in an awful state. Now the economy has seen a sign of improvement, thanks to some policy intervention and other measures. Bank liquidity is satisfactory. Remittance is encouraging. Foreign currency reserve is all time high which is adequate for the import of goods and services for 16 months. Private sector’s confidence is reviving. Tourism sector has bounced back as last year saw more than one million foreign tourists. The government has been tough in corruption control and has initiated action to ensure good governance. Prime Minister has vowed to ensure effective, efficient and result-oriented administration for which he has already initiated some steps. 

In the foreign policy and diplomatic front, the government’s action and activities seem to be on the right track, barring a few lacunas. Given Nepal’s geographic location and international geopolitical scenario, Nepal has to walk tightrope diplomacy. Nepal does not have luxury to make adventurous move in the international relation on whim and sentiment or align with any country or join in any kind of strategic and security alliance. ‘Amity with all and enmity to none’ is what we believe in the conduct of our international relations and diplomacy. We are surrounded by two powerful neighbours—one is already a world power and the other is in the making. Being immediate neighbours, China and India are definitely important for us. Similarly, the United States is lone superpower with which Nepal has always attached greater importance. Apart from these three powers, Nepal has maintained equally close, cordial and cooperative relations with several other countries and has, accordingly, conducted its foreign policy and diplomacy. The government has been able to win trust of our neighbours and all international friends and development partners.

Agreements

Prime Minister Prachanda paid official visit to India and China and reached some important agreements with both the countries having far reaching impact on the bilateral relations and development of Nepal. Similarly, he visited Italy in July to address the UN Food Systems Summit while he travelled to the United States and addressed UN General Assembly where he raised some pertinent issues facing Nepal and the rest of the world. In the COP28 held in Dubai of United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister’s voice was loud and clear on climate change issue and its consequences for human survival. His call to support Nepal in saving the Himalayas was well appreciated by the international community. UN Secretary General António Guterres’ visit and his commitment to support Nepal on climate issue is yet another diplomatic feather in government’s hat.  

The next few years are very crucial for Nepal as it is in the process of graduating from the status of the least developed country, achieving sustainable development goals set by the United Nations and climbing up to the level of middle income country. The support and contribution from our neighbours, international friends and development partners is even more imperative. Prime Minister Prachanda knows it well and has accordingly mobilised international support winning trust of all friends and partners. The report card of the government over the last one year is, therefore, above average or B-Plus. 

(The author is former ambassador and former chief editor of this daily. lamsalyubanath@gmail.com)