Nepal: New Prime Minister Balen launches a major investigation into the wealth of elites

The new Nepalese government has announced the creation of a commission tasked with investigating the assets of current and former political and civil servants. This initiative, spearheaded by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, aims to combat corruption in this Himalayan nation, which is marked by deep distrust of its elites.

Aged 35 and a former rapper known as "Balen," Balendra Shah came to power after his party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), won a landslide victory in the March 5 parliamentary elections. These elections, the first since the anti-corruption protests led by "Generation Z" last September, have profoundly reshaped the country's political landscape.

The five-member commission will be headed by Rajendra Kumar Bhandari, a former Supreme Court judge. Its mission will be to thoroughly examine the assets of public officials in order to identify any irregularities or illicit enrichment.

According to government spokesperson Sasmit Pokhrel, the investigation will be conducted impartially and based on evidence that complies with applicable legal standards. "The commission's report and recommendations will be implemented by the relevant government agencies," he stated after a cabinet meeting, without, however, indicating a timeline for the submission of the findings.

Balendra Shah forged a reputation as a reformer during his tenure as mayor of Kathmandu, where he distinguished himself through his fight against corruption and his commitment to modernizing public administration. This new initiative is a continuation of his commitments, as the population awaits concrete measures to clean up political life.

With this commission, the Nepalese government is sending a strong signal of its commitment to restoring trust and strengthening transparency. It remains to be seen whether this approach will lead to lasting reforms in a country where corruption remains a structural challenge.