Myanmar Parliament Opens Under Junta Grip

Myanmar’s new parliament convened today, dominated by allies of the military junta and serving officers, in what analysts describe as a carefully stage-managed attempt to lend legitimacy to five years of military rule.

The lower house sat at 10:00 am local time, with the upper chamber due to follow tomorrow. The first order of business is the election of house speakers, but the composition of the legislature leaves little doubt about who holds sway. Most MPs belong to the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), while a quarter of seats are reserved for the armed forces under the military-drafted constitution.

The last free election in 2020 delivered a landslide victory for Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, but the junta annulled the results, detained the Nobel laureate and dissolved her movement. The coup sparked civil war, with pro-democracy activists joining long-standing ethnic minority insurgencies.

In December and January, the junta oversaw a re-run of the vote, outlawing criticism and ensuring its civilian allies dominated the ballot. The USDP, founded by an ex-general and staffed by retired officers, claimed more than 80 percent of contested seats. Large areas under rebel control did not participate, further undermining the credibility of the poll.

Attention now turns to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, who is widely tipped to seek the presidency when parliament votes next month. Some observers believe he may trade his military uniform for civilian office, while others suggest he will remain commander-in-chief and control the government from behind the scenes.

“This will be a military junta in civilian clothing,” warned Tom Andrews, the UN’s outgoing Myanmar rights expert, underscoring fears that the new parliament is little more than a façade.

Myanmar has spent most of its post-independence history under military rule, with only a brief democratic opening before the 2021 coup. Today’s session signals the junta’s determination to entrench its power, even as conflict continues to rage across the country.

The coming weeks will reveal whether Min Aung Hlaing opts for the presidential sash or retains his command role, but either way, Myanmar’s parliament appears set to remain firmly under military control.

-2026-03-16