Frustrated with democracy, Nepalis miss monarchy

As Nepal prepares to welcome Britain’s Prince Harry this weekend, there is a yearning among some Nepalis fed up with the political instability and bureaucratic malaise to bring back the monarchy they abolished nearly a decade ago.

The new Constitution that enshrined the country’s democratic principles took seven years to craft and still is not fully enforced. Ethnic protests and energy shortages plague the country. Efforts to rebuild after 2015’s earthquake have been stalled by red tape.

It is unlikely the monarchy will be restored, but a small and growing number of Nepalis are wondering if the country made the right choice when tens of thousands of protesters poured into the streets in 2006, calling on King Gyanendra to give up his authoritarian rule, blaming the monarchy for corruption, economic stagnation and everything that was wrong with the country.

Amid high hopes, the royal system was abolished in favour of a democratically elected Parliament that would choose a President. But eight years later, Nepal’s fledgling democracy has brought mostly frustration and disappointment, and many would argue that the country is actually worse off.

Inflation has doubled to 12 per cent over the past decade, and the country’s ranking on Transparency International’s corruption index has dropped from 90 in 2004 to 130 in 2015. The much-desired Constit-ution has generated protests among ethnic groups in the south who have blocked roads that have led to severe shortages of fuel, medicine and other supplies.

“It is natural for people to think about the monarchy since the political parties have failed to deliver on their promises. All the reasons that the king was kicked out for has gotten worse,” said Keshab Poudel, editor of the Spotlight newsmagazine in Kathmandu.

As a result, the pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal is gaining more support gradually.