President of Nepal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal |
|
|---|---|
|
|
.svg)
Emblem of Nepal
|
|
| Government of Nepal Nepalese Armed Forces |
|
| Style | The Right Honourable His Excellency |
| Residence | Rastrapati Bhawan |
| Appointer | Indirect election |
| Term length | Five years, renewable once |
| Inaugural holder | Ram Baran Yadav |
| Formation | 28 May 2008 |
| Deputy | Vice President of Nepal |
| Salary | रु5015 per day |
| Website | Office of the President of Nepal |
.jpg)
The President of Nepal (Nepali: नेपालको राष्ट्रपति) is like the main representative of the country. They are the head of state for Nepal. They are also the commander-in-chief of the Nepalese Armed Forces, which means they are in charge of the country's military.
The president is chosen through an indirect election. This means people don't vote for them directly. Instead, members of the Federal Parliament of Nepal and the provincial assemblies vote. These members are themselves chosen by direct public vote.
The role of president was created in May 2008. This happened after Nepal officially became a republic, meaning it no longer had a king. The current president is Ram Chandra Poudel, who started his term on March 13, 2023.
Contents
How the President's Role Began
Before 2008, Nepal was a kingdom ruled by a king. In January 2007, a temporary constitution was put in place. This constitution took away all the king's power.
A special group called the Nepalese Constituent Assembly was elected in 2008. Their main job was to decide if Nepal should keep its monarchy or become a republic. While they were deciding, the prime minister of Nepal, Prachanda, acted as the head of state.
On May 28, 2008, the Assembly voted to end the monarchy. This was a big moment for Nepal. Ram Baran Yadav was then elected by the Constituent Assembly. He became Nepal's first president, ending 247 years of kings ruling the country.
How a President is Chosen
Who Can Be President?
To become the President of Nepal, a person must meet certain requirements:
- They must be eligible to be a member of the Federal Parliament.
- They must be at least 45 years old.
- They must not be disqualified by any law.
- A person cannot be president more than twice. If someone has already been president for two terms, they cannot run again.
The Election Process
The president is elected by a special group called an electoral college. This group includes:
- Members of the Federal Parliament.
- Members of the seven Provincial Assemblies.
The votes of these members are counted differently. Votes from federal parliament members have more "weight" than votes from provincial assembly members. This system makes sure that both national and regional representatives have a say in choosing the president.
To win, a candidate needs to get more than half of the total votes from the electoral college.
- If no one gets enough votes in the first round, the top two candidates go to a second round.
- If still no one gets more than half the votes, a third round is held. The person with the most votes in this round wins.
If someone who is elected president already holds another political job, they must leave that job. The election process also tries to make sure that different genders and communities are represented in the top two offices of president and vice president.
Serving as President
How Long is a Term?
A president serves for five years. They can be elected for a second term, but not more than two terms in a row. If a president's term ends, they stay in office until a new president is elected and officially sworn in.
How a President Can Be Removed
A president stops being president if:
- They resign by giving a written letter to the vice-president.
- They are removed from office through a special process called impeachment, which involves a vote by the parliament.
- Their five-year term ends.
- They pass away.
What Powers Does the President Have?
The president's powers are mostly ceremonial. This means they perform important duties like representing the country and upholding the constitution, but they don't make the day-to-day decisions about how the government runs.
In Nepal, the main power to run the country belongs to the Council of Ministers and the prime minister of Nepal. The president is seen as the "guardian of the constitution." Their main job is to make sure the constitution is followed and protected.
The president carries out their duties based on the constitution and federal laws. They usually act with the agreement and recommendation of the Council of Ministers, which is led by the prime minister.
Travel for the President
For international trips, the president uses a special plane from Nepal Airlines, an A330-200. For travel within Nepal, they use a Nepal Army's VIP AW139 helicopter.
Nepal as a Republic
Nepal became a republic in 2008. This meant it changed from having a king as its head of state to having a president.
Transition Period (2007–2008)
During a short period from 2007 to 2008, while the country was deciding its future, the king's powers were removed. The Prime Minister of Nepal, Girija Prasad Koirala, acted as the head of state during this time. On May 28, 2008, the Constituent Assembly voted to end the monarchy. Soon after, Ram Baran Yadav was elected and sworn in as Nepal's first president on July 23, 2008.
See also
In Spanish: Presidente de Nepal para niños
- Vice President of Nepal
- King of Nepal, who were the heads of state when Nepal was a kingdom
- List of heads of state of Nepal, for a full list of Nepal's leaders since 1768
- List of prime ministers of Nepal
