President refuses to sign citizenship law: 5 points on Nepal political crisis

A squabble between the Nepalese government and the country’s president over citizenship legislation could spark a political and constitutional crisis. As Nepalese President Bidhya Devi Bhandari refused to sign proposed changes to the citizenship law, here are five takeaways:

1. According to reports, the proposed bill will provide citizenship certificates to children whose parents’ whereabouts are unknown, resulting in over 500,000 people receiving citizenship certificates and eventually gaining voting rights.

2. The bill will also provide citizenship documents to Nepalis who are citizens of other countries, allowing them to conduct business in Nepal.

3. The bill has been passed twice by a majority in Nepal’s parliament.

4. According to five top leaders of the ruling alliance’s political parties, the president’s refusal to approve the bill has deprived many Nepalis of their right to citizenship.

5. According to Nepal’s opposition parties, the bill must include a provision requiring foreign women to wait seven years before obtaining Nepali citizenship.