ASIA/NEPAL - New President elected, however political crisis continues

Kathmandu (Agenzia Fides) – A step towards full democracy has been taken and it could mean the first page in a new chapter for the nation’s history: the Constitutive Assembly of Nepal has elected its first President after the abolition of the monarchy (this past May 28). The 308-590 vote was won by Ram Baran Yadav, the candidate supported by the centrist Nepali Congress party.
However, the election of Ram Baran Yadav, presented as a candidate that is extremely disliked by Maoists, has led to their firm opposition and they have announced that they do not want to participate in the country’s government and are not interested in entering in the coalition that would form the new executive body. This gesture foretells a political crisis: the situation of uncertainty and stalemate that the country has been living in until now and that it had been hoped would end with the election of a President, is far from being over.
Although the President has limited powers and a role of representations, the election was considered a fundamental step towards the future after the Constitutive Assembly succeeded in expelling King Gyanendra, placing an end to a 240-year monarchy.
The Maoist declarations, who reached a relative majority in the last elections for the Constitutive Assembly last April, give reason to fear a political confrontation that could bring instability and social unrest in the country. The work of the Assembly itself is also in jeopardy, as they are now scheduled to continue meetings to draft a new Constitution.
The Maoist guerrillas were disarmed in April 2006 and agreed to a peace process after nearly 10 years of armed revolt, later entering elections and transforming the movement into a political party. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/7/2008)