Myanmar Parliament Reconvenes After 5 Year Absence
The ruling military government held elections that led to Myanmar’s parliament meeting for the first time in more than 5 years. The reopening comes after the military took over in February 2021 and stopped the parliament that had been elected from meeting. Since the coup, the military has been in charge of the country without a functioning legislative body.
Officials said that the elections that took place in late December and January were a step toward bringing back democratic institutions. But many critics say the process wasn’t fair because important opposition parties weren’t allowed to take part. So, the new parliament shows the political situation that the military government has mostly created.
Source: Al Jazeera
Military And Allies Make Up Most Of Parliament
The military and its political allies now hold almost 90% of the seats in the national legislature. This dominance makes sure that the armed forces have a lot of power over laws and the running of the country. The 2-chamber parliament has hundreds of seats in both the upper and lower houses.
The written constitution of Myanmar’s military sets aside 1/4 of parliamentary seats just for military representatives. These seats give the military a lot of power no matter who wins the election. The Union Solidarity and Development Party, which is supported by the military, won more seats in the recent elections.
Opposition Parties Not Allowed To Run In Elections
The National League for Democracy, which used to be in charge, and other major opposition groups did not run in the elections. Some parties were not allowed to run, and others refused to run because they thought the conditions were unfair. Because of this, a lot of political voices that are critical of the military government are not in the new parliament.
The National League for Democracy won huge victories in the national elections of 2015 and 2020. The party didn’t want to register after the coup because the military made new rules for elections. Its absence made the most recent vote much less competitive.
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Parliament Starts Up With A Lot Of Security
Lawmakers came to the capital city of Naypyitaw for the first meeting of the lower house parliament. The parliamentary complex had just been fixed up after being damaged by a strong earthquake last year. During the official session, security forces kept a close eye on who could get in and out of the area.
Before letting people into the parliamentary compound, police closed off nearby roads and searched cars. Officials said the security measures were needed to keep potential threats or problems from happening. These steps show that there are still political tensions in the country.
The New Leadership Of Parliament Has Been Chosen
During the first session, lawmakers chose who would lead the lower house of parliament. Khin Yi, the head of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, was chosen as speaker. Before, he was a general and the head of the national police.
Maung Maung Ohn, another former general, was chosen to be the deputy speaker of the lower house. Both of these people are thought to be close friends of Myanmar’s current military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Their appointments give the military even more power over what happens in Parliament.
Unclear Who Will Lead The Government In The Future
According to the country’s constitution, Parliament will soon choose a president and 2 vice presidents. People think that Senior General Min Aung Hlaing will become president after the parliamentary vote. After the coup in 2021, he is now in charge of Myanmar’s military government.
But the constitution says that a president can’t also be the commander in chief of the armed forces. This rule makes people wonder if Min Aung Hlaing would give up his job as head of the military. The problem is still not solved as political events keep happening.
Political Crisis Goes On After The Coup
Since the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar has been politically unstable for a long time. The coup led to protests and armed resistance all over the country, which turned into a civil war. International observers have repeatedly criticized the way the military runs things and what it does.
Suu Kyi is now serving a 27-year prison sentence for crimes that many people think are politically motivated. Meanwhile, an opposition shadow parliament made up of elected lawmakers is still holding online sessions. Members say they speak for Myanmar’s legitimate democratic government.
