National Assembly Vice-Chair Links Low Female Candidacy to Electoral System Flaws

Kathmandu. National Assembly Vice-Chair Bimala Ghimire has stated that increasing the participation of female candidates is not possible without reforms in the electoral system.

While responding to queries from journalists at Singha Durbar on Wednesday, she clarified that the current electoral system is the reason for the low candidacy of women in elections. She also argued that the existing electoral system is expensive, which prevents an increase in the number of female candidates in direct elections.

Vice-Chair Ghimire mentioned that although the party had asked her to contest in direct elections, she did not dare to file her candidacy due to the high expenses involved. She stated that the perception of considering proportional representation MPs weaker than those elected through direct elections is wrong.

Vice-Chair Ghimire's view was that proportional representation MPs cannot be considered weaker than directly elected MPs because voters across the country elect them.