Suu Kyi's party wins decisive majority

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Suu Kyi's party wins decisive majority

Supporters of Myanmar's pro-democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi gather outside National League for Democracy headquarters (NLD) in Yangon, Myanmar, Nov. 9, 2015. (PHOTO:- REUTERS/Jorge Silva)

By Thin Lein Win

YANGON (Myanmar Now) - Official results announced on Friday at noon confirmed that Aung San Suu Kyi's party has gained a landslide election victory, granting the National League for Democracy a strong mandate to form a government and demand cooperation from the military’s fixed block of a quarter of parliament seats.

The win gives NLD the power to select the next president when the new parliament convenes in February.

Suu Kyi’s NLD has so far won a combined 348 seats in both chambers of parliament, according to the latest official results, which are being released in batches by the Union Election Commission. The NLD needed 329 seats, or two thirds of the elected seats, to gain a 51-percent majority in parliament.

The ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, backed by the military and led by former senior army officers, has only won 40 so far.

Ethnic parties, which have been expected to give a strong challenge to the NLD, have failed to match Suu Kyi’s popularity and garnered a combined 42 seats in national parliament so far. They fared only slightly better in the regional parliaments.

The opposition triumph is the culmination of the highly popular Nobel laureate’s decades-long fight for the democratic leadership of Myanmar, a once-promising nation that became impoverished under half a century of brutal military rule.

On Wednesday, she called for “national reconciliation” talks with Myanmar's army chief, the president and the parliament speaker. All three have responded to her call with conciliatory comments.

The Nov. 8 elections were a crucial step in Myanmar’s democratic transition that began in 2011 when the quasi-civilian government of former general President Thein Sein took power and embarked on a series of political and economic reforms.

Despite the NLD's thumping victory, the constitution drawn up by the former junta reserves a quarter of the parliamentary seats for unelected military officers. In addition, the armed forces would still control three powerful ministries – defence, home affairs and border affairs.

Suu Kyi herself is barred from the presidency by the army-drafted constitution because her sons with her late British husband are foreign nationals. The former political prisoner has vowed to be “above the president” and take all important decisions.

If the election results are respected, it would be the first time in more than five decades that the Myanmar people have been able to elect a government of their choosing.

(Editing by Paul Vrieze)

-- (c) Copyright Myanmar Now2015-11-13

[Inn Between]

Excellent news!

Aung San Suu Kyi is an amazing woman.

[Eric Loh]

I was talking to a Myanmar businessman just before the election and he was adamant that the NLD will never form the government because of the 25% appointed seats in the lower house. That translate to 110 seats in the 440 house and all the military need to stay in power is for their military backed party USDP is to win just another 110+ seats. That was easy as last election the USDP won 200+ seats. Well, the power of the people has spoken. The USDP won just about 20 odd seats and the NLD has now got a super majority to chose the President. Congralulations to Suu Kyi and her NLD party but most important is a big applause for the citizens to turn out in force to make a strong statement about how they feel about the military and their corruption.

[Searat7]

I think she should receive a second Nobel Peace award

[uptheos]

The Myanmar Military are a bunch of loons, they can squash this in a heartbeat if they want.

A Military Government is never stable.

[kiwikeith]

Would not be surpised to see a coup and house arrest for her again in the near future.

[HerbalEd]

The Myanmar Military are a bunch of loons, they can squash this in a heartbeat if they want.

A Military Government is never stable.

But if they do they know full well Burma is doomed to be another N. Korea. The military may well oppose and drag their feet to impede the newly elected majority, but they don't want to go back in time and thusly they will not "squash" anything.

[Eric Loh]

The Myanmar Military are a bunch of loons, they can squash this in a heartbeat if they want.

A Military Government is never stable.

This wont be a military government with the NLD winning big and appointing a President from their party. Thein Sein is on a path of irreversible change since 2012 when he made that famous UN pledge. Since then he has led many reforms and freed many political prisoners and embarking on peace deals with the ethnic minority groups. He has also relaxed media censorship. I think he is the real deal and he want to take Myanmar to new level of prosperity like his mentor Dengxiaping. He comes from a humble farmer family and rose through the ranks and may have influence his thinking. A revitalized and democratic Myanmar will be a big threat to Thailand FDI.

[Ulic]

Congratulations to her, that said there is always great fanfare with change. Now the reality.

Everyone expects a lot, and they expect it yesterday. I doubt anyone can meet the

expectations of people who think things will change because they were able to vote.

Reform takes years, and everyone wants it in the first 100 days.

[ebonykap]

I think she should receive a second Nobel Peace award

What is the equivalent of a Sainthood in the Buddhist religion?

A truly remarkable person.

[lvr181]

Any Thai citizens learning from this?

[Mudcrab]

Give it a year or so before rejoicing.

She has already said she will be the leader as she won the most votes in spite of the fact that the President is actually the numero uno. She can't be president as her kids have foreign nationalities (don't ask me why).

She said she the country must have a President to satisfy the Constitution, but she will run the show. Putin anyone?

Myanmar is only a stones throw from Thailand.....don't expect miracles.

Could be a lot of payback coming and maybe a Thaksinesque type junta

Who knows?

As many forum members can attest, Asian women aren't always what you see at face value.

Particularly a politically motivated one with a lot of bitter history.

[ResandePohm]

The Myanmar Military are a bunch of loons, they can squash this in a heartbeat if they want.

A Military Government is never stable.

This wont be a military government with the NLD winning big and appointing a President from their party. Thein Sein is on a path of irreversible change since 2012 when he made that famous UN pledge. Since then he has led many reforms and freed many political prisoners and embarking on peace deals with the ethnic minority groups. He has also relaxed media censorship. I think he is the real deal and he want to take Myanmar to new level of prosperity like his mentor Dengxiaping. He comes from a humble farmer family and rose through the ranks and may have influence his thinking. A revitalized and democratic Myanmar will be a big threat to Thailand FDI.

I hope you are wrong about him being like Dengxiaping. He was perhaps the most corrupt politician in China and was responsible for the massacre at Tianaman Square.