Democratic legitimacy in an age of populism

The 2026 general election marked a political turning point, bringing a new generation of leaders to power and reshaping the country’s party system. Balendra Shah, Kathmandu’s independent mayor and a popular figure among young protesters during the September 2025 uprising, joined the Ravi Lamichhane-led Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in December 2025. He subsequently won a