Nepal's parties intensify talks to resolve key issues of new constitution

Xinhua

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The parties are in back channel negotiations to seek solutions to issues concerning federalism, forms of governance, electoral system and judiciary in order to deliver a new constitution within next six months.

According to calendar, they have just three weeks to settle those issues.

The parties are planning to prepare a first draft of the constitution by the end of October and take to the people to seek feedback.

Major parties Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) are in informal talks to discuss a compromise irrespective of their party positions.

Similarly, they are also holding talks with other stakeholders of the new constitution. Talks with armed outfits operating in the hilly and Madhes region have already been accomplished.

On Monday, Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee (PDCC) held consultations with different ethnic communities.

PDCC is a committee composed of top leaders of the parties responsible for settling the contentious issues of the new constitution.

"Parties have expedited the talks at the various levels to seek a solution. We are of the view that new constitution should be promulgated by February 22 next year," UCPN (Maoist) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha told Xinhua.

Second Constituent Assembly (CA), which was formed from the election last year, has taken the ownership of the progress made by previous CA.

As the second CA is regarded as a continuation of first CA, there has been great progress in drafting the new constitution.

Only a few issues are left, which are federalism, forms of governance, electoral system and judiciary.

The most contentious is the number of federal units. Ruling parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML want no more than 7 provinces while UCPN (Maoist) and Madhes want more than 10 provinces.

Federalism was one issue leading to the dissolution of previous CA without delivering a new constitution.