Gyanendra's second reign was marked by constitutional turmoil. His predecessor King Birendra had established a constitutional monarchy in which he delegated policy to a representative government. The growing insurgency of the Nepalese Civil War during King Gyanendra's reign interfered with elections of representatives. After several delays in elections, King Gyanendra suspended the constitution and assumed direct authority in February 2005, asserting that it would be a temporary measure to suppress the Maoist insurgency, as the ushering in of democracy in Nepal had led to a fractious, corrupt and incompetent series of governments who were successively incapable to deal with the Maoist insurgency. In the face of broad opposition, he restored the previous parliament in April 2006. His reign ended about two years later.