Nepal, Dec. 3 -- A few protestors of the TikTok generation first floated the name of Sushila Karki for prime minister while the Singha Durbar burned. Her supporters, coordinating on Discord, quickly rallied behind the proposal. As the state struggled to contain the devastating Fall Protests of 2025, the Nepal Army reportedly signalled that it would not oppose a non-partisan caretaker, and President Ramchandra Paudel moved with unusual speed: He appointed Karki as an interim prime minister charged with steering the country towards fresh elections.

The choice was extraordinary and extra-constitutional. Karki was not a member of the Pratinidhi Sabha, a basic requirement under the 2015 constitution for anyone seeking the premiership. More im...