Final answer:
In Nepal, the prime minister is elected by the majority party or coalition in the legislature, not directly by the people, following a parliamentary system. Significant executive authority is vested in the prime minister, including the power to dissolve the government and call new elections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Electing the Prime Minister in Nepal
In Nepal, the process of electing the prime minister does not involve a direct vote by citizens. Instead, it follows the parliamentary system, similar to that in Britain, where the voters elect the representatives to the legislature. After elections, if a single political party wins a majority of seats, the leader of that party typically becomes the prime minister. However, if no party secures a majority, a coalition needs to be formed. The prime minister is chosen by the majority party or the coalition that forms the government and must maintain the confidence of the legislature to remain in office. Unlike other systems where the chief executive may have more direct accountability to the people, in parliamentary systems such as Nepal’s, the emphasis is placed on the party and its platform rather than the individual personality of the potential prime minister.
Nepal’s political system has faced challenges such as civil unrest and demands for political reform, which sometimes hinder the stability of governance. Even after the establishment of a federal democratic republic in 2008, tensions persisted, affecting the country's economic and political stability. Yet, within the Nepali parliamentary framework, the prime minister is still a powerful figure with significant executive powers, including that of dissolving the government and calling for new elections.