Maoist Former Rebel Leader Becomes Nepal’s New Prime Minister

Maoist Former Rebel Leader Becomes Nepal’s New Prime Minister
Leader of communist party Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, greets the gathering after announcing his resignation as prime minister, in line with an agreement made with his coalition partner party, in Kathmandu, Nepal, on May 24, 2017. Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo
The Associated Press
Updated:

KATHMANDU, Nepal—The former leader of communist rebels became Nepal’s new prime minister Sunday with the support from his ex-opponent and other smaller political parties.

The announcement was made by the office of President Bidhya Devi Bhandari after the Maoist communist party leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal met her to stake his claim for the prime minister following last month’s elections in a major twist in politics in the Himalayan nation.