Thousands of supporters gathered in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, to demand the restoration of the monarchy and show their support for former King Gyanendra Shah. After completing a tour of western Nepal, Gyanendra Shah arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport on Sunday, March 9, where nearly 10,000 supporters greeted him. They chanted slogans such as, “Vacate the palace, bring back the king, save the country. Long live our beloved king. We want the monarchy.”
Due to the large crowd of royal supporters, the airport access roads were blocked, forcing passengers to walk inside. However, hundreds of riot police stationed at the airport prevented protesters from entering, and no violent incidents were reported.
In 2006, Gyanendra Shah was forced to relinquish his autocratic rule in the face of widespread protests. In 2008, the Nepali parliament abolished the monarchy, and Gyanendra began living as an ordinary citizen, leaving the royal palace.
Recently, however, many Nepalese citizens have called for the restoration of the monarchy. They argue that the republican system has failed to bring political stability and has led to increasing corruption and economic crises. Since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008, Nepal has seen 13 government changes.
One protester, 72-year-old Thir Bahadur Bhandari, expressed, “We have come here to fully support the king and restore him to the throne.” Another participant, 50-year-old carpenter Kulraj Shrestha, who had opposed the monarchy during the 2006 protests, said, “The biggest issue in the country now is widespread corruption, and politicians are doing nothing for the nation. I was against the monarchy, thinking it was good for the country, but now I see I was wrong. The country has fallen deeper into crisis, so I have changed my view.”
However, former King Gyanendra Shah has not commented on the demand for the monarchy’s restoration, and analysts suggest that the possibility of his return to power is very low.
In 2001, Gyanendra became king following the tragic assassination of the royal family. Initially, he served as a constitutional monarch but took full control in 2005, dissolving the government and parliament, imprisoning politicians and journalists, and declaring a state of emergency to rule with military support.