Communist leader elected Nepal’s 1st woman president

[bemildred]

A Communist leader who has long campaigned for women’s rights was elected on Wednesday as Nepal’s first female President.

Bidhya Devi Bhandari of the Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist received 327 votes against her opponent’s 214 in the Parliament, Parliament Speaker Onsari Gharti announced.

The President is the ceremonial head in Nepal while the Prime Minister is the nation’s leader.

Bhandari (54) is the deputy leader of the party led by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, who was elected earlier this month and leads a coalition government. The new Constitution adopted last month required Nepal to name a new President.

http://atimes.com/2015/10/communist-leader-elected-as-nepal-first-woman-president/

[Jesus Malverde]

1. Interesting what's going on in Nepal.

The new constitution pissed off two minority groups with ties to India.

As a result the border with India was closed by the Indians. This has pushed them to rely on the one crazy mountainous border crossings with China for everything. The Chinese recently sent 100 trucks of fuel and are said to be upgrading the border road.

[bemildred]

2. It is. I haven't paid much attention to it though.

My crude impression is that India will just have to deal with it now. The Maoists have been at it for a long time and they finally got control and will not give it up.

http://atimes.com/2015/10/how-china-pipped-india-at-nepal-post/