Nepal parliament formally strips King's powers

KATHMANDU: Nepal's parliament in a unanimous vote has stripped King Gyanendra of his right to veto laws in a move that formally makes him a ceremonial monarch, an official notice said on Sunday.

The law, passed by an interim government that came to power in April when King Gyanendra bowed to popular protests and ceded absolute power, was passed late on Saturday, according to a Parliament notice published on Sunday.

"Now the king's role is totally ceremonial," Raghuji Panta, a member of parliament from Nepal's second largest party, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) said.

The Parliament made a proclamation in May that drastically clipped the king's authority and Saturday's regulation formally scrapped his right to reject bills and laws passed by parliament, according to a senior legislative member.

"With the approval of the regulation, a new rule has been made that full executive power of the state is centred on the council of ministers and the house holds legislative power," Subash Nemwang, the speaker in the lower house of representatives said.

In addition to losing legislative veto power, the king no longer has control of the 90,000 strong Nepal Army nor can he choose an heir to the throne.

The king was forced from power after protests organised by political parties in concert with Maoist rebels who opposed his takeover on February 1, 2005.