The absence of internal democracy in political parties is a major barrier to advancing democracy in Nepal, according to cross-party leaders.

Putting forth their views in the Kantipur Conclave on Wednesday, they said it is unfortunate that the same five-six political faces have ruled the country in rotation for over three decades.

Speaking in the session themed “Democracy at Crossroads”, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa said the flawed membership distribution process and internal elections where parties select their officials make Nepal an exception, where the same old faces have dominated politics for years.

“Democracy can only evolve when we acknowledge problems within ourselves and commit to rectify them,” he said. “If top leaders like Sher Bahadur Deuba [chief of the Nepali Congress], KP Sharma Oli [CPN-UML chair], and Pushpa Kamal Dahal [CPN Maoist Centre chief] don’t take accountability for these failures, I will take responsibility. We, the political parties, have brought democracy here, and we are the ones who must correct its course.”

Thapa, who has already declared his intent to contest party presidency in the upcoming general convention, said bills relating to political parties and elections should incorporate provisions that strengthen internal democracy within the parties.

The government is working on bills related to political parties and an integrated election law. These laws must have provisions to regulate resource mobilisation, and ensure proper internal elections, participation, and transparency in the political parties, according to the leaders.

“We failed to develop a proper system for the entry and exit of leaders. As a result, leadership remains in the hands of only a few individuals,” said former minister Ram Kumari Jhakri, a CPN (Unified Socialist) leader. She added that incumbent top leaders from all major parties have occupied dominant positions in Nepali politics since the restoration of democracy in 1990.

Jhakri said that merely holding periodic elections and electing people’s representatives does not mean a democratic system is functional. “Democracy adhering to the values of social justice is what we seek. It must connect with the lifestyle of the general public,” she said. “We pledged everything to the people through the Constitution of Nepal, but have failed to deliver.”

Several of the social-economic rights enshrined in the statute have not been delivered even nine years after its promulgation. Further, the federal parliament has yet to promulgate several Acts relating to fundamental rights, and the government continues to delay the regulations even when Acts are in place.

The speakers said, of late, new forces are emerging against the backdrop of the failures by traditional forces. However, the new forces are more into populism rather than addressing the real needs of the people.

Chairperson of Nepal Samajbadi Party and former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai described democracy as a continuously evolving system that overcomes challenges and offers opportunities for progress.

“We are advocating for a democracy which incorporates the freedom component from liberal democracy, social protection from socialist democracy, along with representation and inclusion,” said Bhattarai. He attributed Nepal’s delayed democratic development to deep-rooted political constraints and asserted that democracy in Nepal, though progressing, requires vigilance and adaptation.

Naming the president elect in the United States, Indian prime minister, Turkey’s president and many other democratically elected leaders, a speaker in the session pointed out flaws within the democratic system. Yogendra Yadav, a professor and a political activist in India, underscored the need for having mechanisms to build political consciousness among the people.

“There is nothing like a finished product called democracy. It needs to be continuously updated and refined,” said Yadav. “Transforming people’s opinion… working with people’s consciousness is necessary (to strengthen democracy).”

Also speaking, author and journalist Thomas Bell of the United Kingdom said Western nations, such as the UK and the United States, are exploiting immigration issues for political gains, using it to gather votes in elections.

He noted that if lies and exaggerations persist in democracies, democratic institutions will be increasingly fragile.

Bell said broad consensus among leaders is essential for the stability of constitutional democracy. He said that since the 2008 economic recession, immigration has become a central topic of debate, especially in countries like the US and the UK.

“Leaders stand divided on immigration policies. Some argue immigrants are necessary to strengthen the economy. In contrast, others link immigration to refugee issues, portraying it as a complex problem,” said Bell. “Right-wing groups have long criticised immigration to garner votes.”