"Even if the king gives in to the demands for such an assembly, as seems likely, Nepal faces a long road to stability. On the face of it, the country's second democratic transition is in the hands of an unlikely alliance. Nepal's seven-party front is an unwieldy group ranging from leftists to former monarchists. More problematic is the fact that it's allied with the Maoist movement that, not long ago, had targeted some of the coalition partners for death. The various parties are today united only by their aversion to the autocratic king, who seized power in February 2005 and threatened them with permanent marginalization. The street protests could have the positive effect of pressuring the politicians to perform. But the notion that this motley group will save Nepal is questionable."

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