GNV News, April 5, 2025

At the end of March 2025, pro-monarchy demonstrations that broke out in the capital, Kathmandu, escalated into a large-scale violent incident, and clashes with security forces left two people, including a journalist, dead and more than 110 injured. The last king, Gyanendra, was involved in the incident. On February 19, 2025—designated “Democracy Day”—Gyanendra released a video statement calling to “protect the nation’s traditions,” sparking the protests. In March, he also traveled from Pokhara to Kathmandu, where thousands of supporters welcomed him at the airport. He further strengthened ties with his base through religious rituals. There is also a government account that he invited protest leaders to his residence and appointed “commanders.”

Until 2006, Nepal was a constitutional monarchy with the king of the Shah dynasty as head of state. However, during the Nepal conflict from 1996 to 2006, anti-monarchy Maoists expanded their influence. Therefore, in 2005, then-King Gyanendra seized absolute power to defeat the Maoist insurgents, but he lost public support and concluded a peace agreement with the Maoists. In April 2006, the monarchy was suspended, and a Comprehensive Peace Agreement was concluded between the new government and the Maoists. Subsequently, in 2008 the Constituent Assembly declared the abolition of the monarchy, and Nepal became a federal democratic republic. However, since the abolition of the monarchy, 13 changes of government, corruption, and economic hardship have followed, and pro-monarchy sentiment is growing. That said, restoring the monarchy would require amending the constitution, and at present support is insufficient—in parliament the pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) holds less than 5% of seats—so the likelihood is low. Nevertheless, there are concerns that the former king’s ambitions and his supporters’ campaign will deepen the divide between pro-republic and pro-monarchist forces.

Learn more about Nepal → “The Fate of Post-Conflict Justice: Nepal”

Former King Gyanendra Shah (left) (2009) (Photo: Ingmar Zahorsky / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])