Nepal: Gen Z buoys exrapper's party to landslide victory

"The commission said Shah's centrist RSP secured 182 of the 275 seats in the lower house, giving it an outright majority and clearing the way for the 35-year-old former rapper to become prime minister. The result marks a dramatic political shift in the Himalayan nation, with Shah—until recently mayor of Kathmandu—seen as a symbol of generational change."

"The demonstrations, driven largely by young Gen Z activists protesting corruption and economic hardship, turned violent after security forces opened fire, leaving more than 70 people dead and several government buildings burned. Oli eventually resigned under pressure, and a caretaker administration led by former chief justice Sushila Karki took over ahead of the vote."

"The 35-year-old Shah first gained prominence in Nepal's hip-hop scene in the 2010s and has attracted strong support from younger voters hoping for political reform and a break with the country's traditional leadership. His music is noted for its socially conscious themes, such as corruption, inequality, and urban life."

Nepal's election commission confirmed a decisive victory for reformist politician Balendra Shah and his Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), securing 182 of 275 lower house seats. Shah, a 35-year-old former rapper and recent Kathmandu mayor, represents generational change in the Himalayan nation. The center-left Nepali Congress finished second with 38 seats, while the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist won 25 seats. Shah defeated former prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli in his constituency. The election followed mass protests six months earlier that forced Oli from office after security forces killed over 70 demonstrators. Young Gen Z activists drove protests against corruption and economic hardship. Shah gained prominence through Nepal's hip-hop scene, attracting younger voters seeking political reform and departure from traditional leadership.

Read at www.dw.com