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Parties agree on ‘constitutional president’ and executive prime minister; CA meeting beginning shortly

The political parties have agreed to declare republic from today’s first sitting of the Constituent Assembly. They have also agreed to go for ‘constitutional president’ and ‘executive prime minister’.

An extended meeting of the key leaders of the parties held in Baluwatar from this morning arrived at the agreement.

“There’s an agreement among the parties on a ceremonial president as head of the state and an executive prime minister. The president will function according to the decision of the cabinet,” CPN (ML) general secretary C.P Mainali, who participated in the meeting, said.

However, the parties could not decide on the 26 CA members to be nominated by the government and differences still persist on the amendment in the existing constitutional provision of two-thirds majority for unseating the prime minister.

Later, the cabinet approved the decisions of the meeting and Prime Minister G.P Koirala is set to present the ‘republic proposal’ before the Assembly for decision shortly.

Meanwhile, following the agreement among the parties, the CA meeting is soon getting underway at the Birendra International Convention Centre. PM Koirala, Maoist chairman Prachanda and other key leaders, who have been elected to the CA, have already entered the CA meeting venue.

The CA meeting, which was to start at 11 am, was delayed by over seven hours with the top leaders still engaging in discussion to sort out their differences on the rights and responsibilities of the president and nomination of 26 CA members. nepalnews.com mk May 28 08