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KATHMANDU – In a ceremony broadcast on state television, Sushila Karki was sworn in as Nepal's prime minister this Friday, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the Himalayan nation's history. Her appointment represents a political and social milestone in a nation that has undergone complex processes of democratic transition and struggle for gender equality in recent decades.

Karki, a renowned jurist and former chief justice of the Supreme Court, has been a key figure in consolidating the rule of law in Nepal. Her rise to the head of government is being interpreted as a decisive step toward political openness and the strengthening of democratic institutions, especially in a country where women have historically faced multiple barriers to representation in public life.

During the swearing-in ceremony at the Presidential Palace, the new prime minister promised to work for political stability, fight corruption, and improve the social and economic conditions of the population. She also called for national unity as Nepal seeks to overcome internal divisions and consolidate the progress made since the end of the monarchy in 2008.

Karki's appointment was greeted with optimism by women's organizations and progressive sectors, who see it as a symbolic victory in decades of struggle for gender equality. "It's a powerful message for all girls and young women in Nepal: now they too can aspire to the highest state positions," said a representative of the Federation of Nepalese Women.

Political analysts warn, however, that the road will not be easy. Nepal faces serious economic challenges following the devastating earthquakes of 2015, in addition to ethnic tensions and political disputes that have hampered governance. Karki will have to build consensus among fragmented parties and respond to growing citizen demand for structural reforms.

Internationally, her coming to power has sparked interest in neighboring countries such as India and China, which are eager to see what direction Nepalese foreign policy will take under her leadership.

With this appointment, Nepal joins the list of South Asian nations that have had women in the highest spheres of political power, such as India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, marking a new chapter in the region's democratic history.