The process to appoint ambassadors, recommended by the government two weeks ago, has hit a roadblock. Despite the cabinet’s endorsement of eight individuals for ambassadorial positions across different countries on June 21, uncertainty looms over their appointments as the necessary parliamentary procedures have not been initiated.
The recommendation, put forth when the coalition government comprised the CPN-UML, Maoist Center, and other parties, has been caught in the aftermath of political realignments. Notably, the UML, a significant coalition partner, has withdrawn its support from the government, shifting the political landscape. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, despite the coalition breakdown leaving his government in the minority, has not tendered his resignation.
Padam Prasad Pandey, the General Secretary at the Parliament Secretariat and Secretary of the Parliamentary Hearing Committee, confirmed that as of Friday, the proposal to appoint ambassadors had not been officially registered at the Parliament Secretariat. This procedural delay means that the proposal has yet to be forwarded to the Parliamentary Hearing Committee for further scrutiny.
Explaining the standard protocol, Pandey emphasized that following the cabinet’s recommendation, the government must register the proposal with the Parliament Secretariat. Subsequently, the Secretariat forwards the recommendations to the Parliamentary Hearing Committee, which then invites public feedback and complaints against the nominated individuals.
Prakash Adhikari, a member of the Parliamentary Hearing Committee, echoed Pandey’s statement, affirming that the ambassadorial recommendation process has not progressed within the committee. Adhikari highlighted the uncertainty surrounding whether the recommendation has even been formally submitted to the Parliament Secretariat for consideration.
The individuals recommended for ambassadorial roles include Bijan Pant for South Korea, Sumnima Tuladhar for Denmark, Pushpa Raj Ranjitkar for Spain, Netra Prasad Timalsina for Malaysia, and Abu Sufyan Khan Muslim for Saudi Arabia. Notably, Sushil Pyakurel, originally recommended for South Korea, declined the ambassadorial post. These recommendations were initially based on the proportional shares of the then-ruling UML and Maoist Center within the coalition.
