Reasons Behind the Absence of a Formal Courtesy Meeting Between the President and Prime Minister: Neglect or Oversight by Balen?

As the government led by Information Minister Walendra Shah continues bulldozing informal settlements in the Kathmandu Valley, both national and international human rights activists have expressed concern. A proposed ordinance, aimed at addressing issues related to squatters, is currently under the President’s consideration. While President Ramchandra Paudel promulgated two ordinances on Thursday, he mentioned that consultations with various parties on other matters are ongoing. Reports indicate that constitutional experts have advised the President to engage in discussions with Prime Minister Balen. However, some sources claim the Prime Minister has been unavailable for such dialogue, though this remains unconfirmed and no statement has been issued by the President’s office. Attempts to reach Prime Minister Balen’s political advisor, Asim Shah, for comment were unsuccessful, and other senior government officials have also refrained from responding. According to Manish Jhaka, spokesperson for the major political party Rastriya Swatantra Party (Raswapa), the Prime Minister currently suffers from dental issues, preventing meetings with others. “Even if an initiative is made now, a meeting cannot happen today; this requires time. Yesterday, there was only an informal expression of willingness to meet; reaching any conclusion immediately would be premature, as time, scheduling, and process are needed,” he explained.

Constitutionalist and professor Surya Dhungel emphasized that in a democratic country like Nepal, continuous dialogue and meetings between the head of state and the Prime Minister are essential. “Regular communication between the head of state and the Prime Minister is indispensable for effective national governance and administration,” he said. Article 81 of the Constitution mandates that decisions of the Council of Ministers, bills presented in Parliament, and other significant information must be communicated by the Prime Minister to the President. The Prime Minister is also constitutionally required to update the President on the nation’s current situation and foreign relations. Yet, since assuming office, Prime Minister Balen has met President Paudel only for the oath-taking and parliamentary address and has had no further personal meetings. A presidential advisor confirmed that the Prime Minister has not held formal ‘courtesy meetings’ with the President but declined to comment further. According to Raswapa spokesperson Jhaka, “The time for a courtesy meeting will come.” Notably, the Prime Minister’s tenure has already surpassed one month without such a meeting. As of Friday afternoon, no reports indicate any meeting or dialogue on this matter.

Experts cite examples from previous leaders, from Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) to Pranab Mukherjee, showing that despite ideological differences, relationships between the government and the head of state should not be strained. Lalit Basnet, legal advisor to Nepal’s first President Ram Barun Yadav, insists that continuous meetings between the Prime Minister and the President are necessary. “It is the Prime Minister’s duty to provide weekly briefings to the President regarding policy direction,” Basnet stated. Constitutional scholar Dhungel added that political and ideological differences should not impede constitutional responsibilities. He recalls, during his tenure as legal advisor to President Yadav, how the Indian President Pranab Mukherjee—despite his election in 2012 and the BJP government’s arrival in 2014—met with the Indian Prime Minister weekly. “Mukherjee reportedly said he meets the Prime Minister every week,” Dhungel said. Due to the absence of such meetings in Nepal, some speculate that Raswapa may be pressuring the President to step down. Although some voices on social media call for the President’s removal, executing impeachment in the House of Representatives requires a two-thirds majority, making this difficult. Moreover, ongoing impeachment proceedings do not prevent the President and Vice President from discharging their duties.

Professor Dhungel suggests that the lack of meetings between Raswapa or the Prime Minister and the President may reflect immaturity in practice rather than intentional disregard. The President’s office could remind the Prime Minister’s office about the tradition and constitutional provisions governing such meetings. “Attention can be drawn to the Prime Minister by citing relevant constitutional articles,” he added, noting that new Prime Ministers usually adjust gradually to parliamentary practices. Former MPs and secretariat staff also emphasize the need to guide the Prime Minister and government on parliamentary procedures. Even Pushpa Kamal Dahal, elected in the first Constituent Assembly elections, initially had to be reminded to meet the President regularly. “After Dahal’s first foreign visit to China, the President’s office called him to provide information, and only after that did regular meetings begin,” Basnet explained. This suggests that suspicion should not be cast on inexperienced leaders like Balen and Raswapa. “Former Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda used to participate in regular briefings,” Basnet added. “Even if things are not clear now, it is important not to raise doubts.”

Along with the Prime Minister, other high-ranking officials such as Raswapa-elected Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal have also yet to hold formal courtesy meetings with the President. According to Navaraj Pandey, a member of the Speaker’s secretariat and journalist, the Speaker meets the President during various oath-taking ceremonies, but separate formal meetings have not occurred, adding that no particular consultations are presently necessary. Additionally, there have been no reports of courtesy meetings between Prime Minister Balen and National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Dahal or Speaker Aryal. Before attending the Inter-Parliamentary Union conference held two weeks ago in Istanbul, Turkey, Chairperson Dahal reportedly requested a meeting with the Prime Minister. “The timing didn’t work out then; I only had one day,” Dahal said, adding, “Meetings happen at other times as well. It may not be due to unwillingness but scheduling difficulties, and it’s possible the Prime Minister prefers fewer meetings.”