Myanmar yesterday entered a new political era as Aung San Suu Kyi’s pro-democracy lawmakers took their seats in parliament, bearing the hopes of a nation subjugated for decades by the military.
Wearing pastel orange uniforms, lawmakers from the National League for Democracy (NLD) arrived for their first day of work in the capital, Naypyidaw, buoyed by a massive popular mandate from the polls in November last year.
Those elections saw the NLD wrest a majority from the army establishment and has spurred hopes of a new political dawn in the long-repressed nation.
Photo: Reuters
Aung San Suu Kyi, the centerpiece of Myanmar’s struggle for democracy, entered the parliament building without comment.
She took a seat alone for the short opening session which saw the lawmakers sworn in and the appointment of a close ally, Win Myint, as lower house speaker.
“Today is a day to be proud of in Myanmar’s political history and for the democratic transition,” Win Myint said in an acceptance speech.
The new government faces a daunting rebuilding task in one of Southeast Asia’s poorest countries.
Many of the NLD lawmakers are political novices, unskilled in the business of government. They must swiftly adapt to a difficult decisionmaking process in a legislature where unelected soldiers occupy 25 percent of all seats.
“It’s a historic moment for the country,” Burmese political analyst Khin Zaw Win said.
The parliament must choose a new president to succeed Burmese President Thein Sein, the former general who in 2011 launched dramatic reforms that culminated in the election.
Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from the post by a military-scripted constitution because she married and had children with a foreigner. The 70-year-old has vowed to sidestep this hurdle by ruling “above” a proxy president.
While there is no clear schedule for the selection of candidates, it could be within days.
Elected members of both houses and the military are to nominate three candidates to replace Thein Sein, who retains his post until the end of next month. The new president will then be chosen by a vote of the combined houses.
On the streets of Yangon, ordinary people said they were optimistic about what Aung San Suu Kyi could achieve.
“We have been hoping for an NLD government for a long time. I feel happy now,” said Kyaw Htet, a 22-year-old dentist.
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