EDITORIAL
With Mr. Dol Prasad Aryal elected unopposed Speaker of the House of Representatives, the parliament has once again placed itself on the right democratic track. The procedures followed for the same indicates political maturity in the country. All people, institutions and processes related to restoring parliamentary process in the country deserve respectful commendation. Aryal, the 10th Speaker of Nepal parliament, has pledged standard democratic neutrality in running the top representative body of the country. The ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, with near two third majority in the 275-member House, does not have to worry much about number in getting things done in the parliament. Yet the Speaker, who until now, worked as Vice-Chairman of the RSP and got elected from Kathmandu-Constituency-9, will have to take into consideration the political interests and priorities of other parties- the oldest, seasoned and the very latest (formed just prior to March 5, 2026 election). Managing the parliamentary affairs in an impartial democracy-friendly manner is a challenge in itself. Acts such as contributing to law making, maintaining parliamentary propriety, enabling the noble cause of representation and scrutiny of those in power are difficult but Aryal should strive for them. The issues which attract parliamentary attention could be highly pressing. Some of them could crop up outside periphery of parliament and require proper attention of representatives. The government should be made accountable to the parliament and ministers should be responsive to what other members of parliament seek to know or expect appropriate attention. The Speaker should make sure that the discussion in the parliamentary floor is up to the standard. Parliamentary procedures and rule of law should be kept always in focus as opposite views are expressed in the House. Parliamentary Committees should also be duly honoured for they are regarded as mini-parliament in the country. A cooperative operational mechanism should be developed and pursued day in and day out.
