KATHMANDU: Lawmakers in Nepal elected Ram Chandra Paudel as the next president, the third person to assume the highest office in the country since it was declared a republic in 2008.
The lawmakers of the two houses of the federal parliament and assemblies in seven provinces cast their ballots to decide between Ram Chandra Paudel of the ruling political alliance and the opposition candidate Subash Chandra Nembang.
In the two-man race for the largely ceremonial position, Paudel secured 33,802 votes. His rival, Subash Chandra Nembang, received15,518 votes, the state-owned Gorkhapatra online portal reported.
Paudel, 78, received support from several parties, including the Communist Party of Nepal led by Prime Minister PushpaKamal Dahal Prachanda.
Paudel began his political career as a student leader during the decades-long party less Panchayat system that lasted to 1990.
He was imprisoned while fighting against the former king's rule and later served as a speaker, home minister, and acting president of his party.
The tenure of the outgoing president, Bidya Devi Bhandari, ends on March 12.
In Nepal, the president is elected by an electoral college consisting of federal and provincial lawmakers, with their votes carrying varying weights.
The president has limited power in Nepal, while the prime minister serves as the head of the government.
The elections came at a time of political uncertainty following elections held last year delivered a hung parliament.
Following Prime Minister Dahal's decision to support Paudel in the presidential bid, the CPN-UML, the second-largest party that supported Dahal to become prime minister, accused him of failing to honour a power-sharing agreement and broke off ties with the ruling coalition.
This move paved the way for a new power pact between the Nepali Congress and CPN, which are the first and third largest parties, respectively.
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