"Rapper-Turned 35-Year-Old Becomes Prime Minister"...Nepal Sees Regime Change After 'Generation Z Protests'

Rose to Prominence Amid Generation Z Protests
Came to Power with a Landslide Victory in the General Election

In Nepal, where anti-government protests led by Gen Z last year resulted in dozens of deaths, a rapper-turned-prime minister in his 30s has taken office.

According to the Associated Press and other sources on March 27 (local time), Valendra Shah (35), also known as Balen, was appointed prime minister by President Ram Chandra Paudel and was inaugurated at the presidential residence in Kathmandu. He is the youngest prime minister in Nepal’s history. He attended the inauguration ceremony wearing his trademark black sunglasses and black suit, accompanied by senior government officials.

Valendra Shah, newly appointed Prime Minister of Nepal, taking the oath of office. Photo by AP Yonhap News Agency

Prime Minister Balen has a unique background as a political leader. Born in 1990, he earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering in Nepal and India, while also being active as a rapper in Nepal's underground hip-hop scene. He became known for his rap lyrics criticizing the corruption of the ruling class and social inequality, and in 2022, he created a major upset by winning the Kathmandu mayoral election with strong support from young voters.

Last September, during anti-government protests led by Gen Z, he emerged as a central figure and became an interim leader. Later, in the general election held on March 5, he ran as a candidate from the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and secured 182 out of 275 seats in the lower house, far surpassing the majority, leading to his nomination as prime minister.

After the general election, he also released a video of himself performing an original rap song on social media. The song’s message included, "The power of unity is national strength. With Nepalese united, history is being made this time."

Since abolishing the monarchy and transitioning to a federal republic in 2008, Nepal has experienced ongoing political instability, with the prime minister being replaced 16 times. Over the past 30 years, the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-UML) and the Nepali Congress (NC) have alternated in power.

The economic situation is also precarious. As of 2024, the youth unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 24 exceeds 22%, and more than 20% of the total population is classified as living in poverty. The annual per capita income is about $1,400 (approximately 1.94 million won), which is the lowest in South Asia except for Afghanistan.

Ultimately, in September last year, large-scale anti-government protests broke out in response to corruption and economic hardship. During the protests, over 70 people, including police, were killed and around 2,000 were injured. Major public facilities and buildings, including the Prime Minister's Office, the Parliament building, and the Supreme Court, were damaged, with the total losses estimated at about $580 million (approximately 865 billion won).

Foreign media have evaluated that Prime Minister Balen's administration has begun with major tasks ahead, including easing political instability, creating jobs, and achieving economic recovery.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.