<b>Editorial:</b> Gone with the wind

But while grace in victory is a virtue always to be cherished, getting rid of the monarchy and asking the king to look for new digs has been the easy part. Now begin the hard bits, such as initiating and implementing wide-ranging land reform, attracting industrial investment, providing the country with proper constitutional governance and sensible international relations. The changeover from a feudal order to a modern one has never been easy for any country. Nepal should not regard itself an exception. It is also a fact that when faced with problems during the transition, which can extend over many years, governments tend to get impatient and seek to abridge the very freedoms they fought for and wrested from the old order. Governments that are dominated by those of a Marxist persuasion, of whatever hue, are more prone to this failing. So it will be interesting to see how the new Maoist-led government handles the problems that lie ahead and what it does when its skills and patience are tested. Indeed, the strains are already showing in the tussle over who should be the ceremonial president replacing the king. The Maoists have rightfully claimed for themselves the office of the prime minister, but their leader Prachanda has said that he wants to be the ceremonial president as well