On 5 March, the people of Nepal elected a new parliament. The vote was preceded by serious protests over the past year against widespread corruption in the country. With the election of Balendra Shah as the new head of government, many Nepalis associate hopes for a political and structural fresh start.

Shah, who is known by his stage name “Balen,” is seen particularly by the younger generation as a symbol of change. Before entering politics, Shah made a name for himself in Nepal’s hip-hop scene. In his songs, he addressed corruption, social inequality and the lack of prospects faced by many young people. Four years ago, he was elected Mayor of Kathmandu as an independent candidate. At the beginning of this year, he stepped down from this position and joined the relatively young RSP (Rastriya Swatantra Party). It now remains to be seen whether the former rapper, politician and favourite of “Gen Z” can lead not only a city, but an entire country.

The challenges are enormous: high youth unemployment, ongoing migration abroad, deeply rooted corruption and nepotism have caused frustration among the population for years. Expectations are therefore high that “Balen” will not only address these issues in his songs in the future, but will also push forward concrete solutions.

Within and around NAG, too, there is a noticeable sense of hope for positive change. The election victory of the new political leadership could enable a more systematic approach in key areas such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, job creation, increasing per capita income, digital governance and the fight against corruption. The election programme sounds promising. However, it remains to be seen whether it will lead to truly sustainable reforms. The joy about the election outcome and the expectations of real change are high — but only the coming years will show whether these hopes will be fulfilled.

Ahead of the elections, the NAGers were made aware of the importance of this democratic process. They were shown how they can actively contribute to shaping Nepal’s future through their vote.