Yangon (dpa) – Hundreds of newly-elected lawmakers were set to take their place in Myanmar’s parliament Monday, after gaining seats in historic elections last year won by the National League for Democracy (NLD).
Myanmar election victor Aung San Suu Kyi (L) leaves after she attends the meeting with her party members who won the seat in 2015 general election at the parliament building in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, 28 January 2016. Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) will Monday take centre stage to govern Myanmar for the first time.
NLD legislators, led by longtime pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, will have a large majority in the new parliament after the party won a landslide in the November polls.
The previous parliament was dominated by army-backed candidates, in a country that had spent nearly five decades under military dictatorship.
One of the NLD’s central campaign promises was to reform the constitution to curtail the power of the military. This may prove difficult as military appointees still hold a quarter of the seats in each house of parliament, enough to block any changes.
Outgoing President Thein Sein told parliament Thursday that the country still has problems such as the incomplete peace process with ethnic minority rebels, creaky infrastructure and economic development.
One of the first decisions for the new legislature will be to vote on the new parliamentary speakers.
It will also choose the next president. The NLD’s majority gives it the power in theory to install its preferred candidate.
Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from the presidency, although she has said she will rule Myanmar from “above the president.”
