Nepal royalists seek return of king

Pro-monarchy protests surge in Nepal amid economic despair, political instability, and calls for the king's return.

Nearly two decades since Nepal became a secular republic, a surge of pro-monarchy protests have swept the Himalayan nation, fuelled by economic despair and disillusionment with current leaders.

Thousands of demonstrators took to streets last month in a royalist rally that turned violent, with two people killed and more than 100 arrested.

It was one of the latest in a wave of protests demanding the restoration of the monarchy, which has grown in tandem with popular dissatisfaction over political instability, corruption and lacklustre economic development.

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The Hindu-majority nation became a secular republic in 2008 after Parliament abolished the monarchy in a peace deal to end a decade-long civil war in which more than 16,000 people died.

Rajendra Lingden, chairperson of the royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Nepal's fifth-largest party, said the king is linked with national identity and pride. "We do not seek monarchy as a ruling institution, but rather as a guardian that safeguards national interests and prevents foreign interference," Mr. Lingden told AFP.

In 2017, RPP won a single seat in Parliament. Then in the last election in 2022, their royalist and pro-Hindu agenda gained them 14 seats.