KATHMANDU: While many have attempted to portray the emergent "Gen-Z movement" in Nepal as a sudden outburst, its roots lie deep in the country's political soil. The primary source of this public outrage is the persistent failure of the governing structure and established political parties to address the aspirations of the people. The energy shown by the Gen-Z movement is a natural corrective mechanism for democracy, and ignoring it could give rise to even greater challenges in the future.

The parties that were until recently in power not only failed to listen to the public but behaved in a manner that deeply frustrated them. Rampant corruption, political factionalism, nepotism that denied opportunities to those without connections, and systemic government sluggishness alienated citizens, particularly the younger generation. It was in this environment that young people took to the streets, adopting the "Gen-Z Movement" as a potent symbol of their discontent.

Even after the movement's success reportedly led to a new government and the announcement of elections, the response from key leaders of the old political parties has been far from self-critical. Instead of identifying the root causes of the protests, they have resorted to blaming "external forces." This approach risks pushing a genuine solution further out of reach, as the public clearly understands that the movement was not the result of foreign infiltration but the long-term consequence of being neglected by their own leaders.

Senior figures in the established parties have been especially prone to dismissing the movement as mere "infiltration." If they continue to evade the issue by generalizing or shifting blame, the core problems will remain unsolved. More dangerously, this simmering discontent could easily explode into another movement. It is therefore imperative for conscientious members within these parties to question their top leadership: Why were the people so enraged? Why has public trust in the traditional parties eroded so completely?

The top leadership of these political parties appears unwilling to accept that faith in their leadership has collapsed. They show no interest in creating opportunities for the next generation or in fundamentally restructuring their parties. Instead, they seem determined to sideline the younger generation's vision for a new way forward.

In this complex situation, which is a direct result of their own failures, they show no proactive desire to hand over leadership to the new generation. On the contrary, they actively seek to suppress internal debates on restructuring and leadership transition initiated by younger party members. The ongoing efforts to block discussions about electing new leadership through a special general convention in parties like the Nepali Congress (one of Nepal's largest and oldest democratic parties) is another facet of this resistance.

This is not the time to be entangled in unnecessary ideological disputes. The urgent need now is to focus on national economic development by fostering close ties with the world's major emerging economies. If opportunities are not created for young people, they will be pushed towards despair and anger. That same despair could once again become the fuel for another revolution.

The message from the Gen-Z movement is unequivocal: it is no longer possible to hold onto power by ignoring the people and conducting politics in the same old style. To strengthen democracy, Nepal needs introspection, reform, and policies that are aligned with the public's aspirations.

In conclusion, if Nepal's established parties do not undertake meaningful self-reform, if their leaders do not change their attitude towards the public, and if they fail to create opportunities for the youth, the recurrence of another popular movement seems inevitable. The Gen-Z movement is a warning bell; whether to heed it is a decision that now rests in the hands of the parties themselves.