The future of democracy in Nepal: Addressing the challenges preserving the gains of the past

Different dynasties ruled Nepal since the 7th century BC. However, early in the 1950s, a democratic movement overthrew the Rana regime that ruled the country for more than 100 years. Then in 1990, a multiparty parliament with King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah as the head of state and an executive prime minister was founded.

While the parliamentary democracy in Nepal was affected by the decade-long Maoist war , shortly afterwards, King Gyanendra was installed as a ruler in 2001. After the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in November 2006 and the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections in 2008, Nepal was proclaimed a federal democratic republic. However, the first CA was unable to complete the historic duty of drafting a constitution and was dissolved in 2012.