According to the latest results from the country’s election commission, the NDL needs 38 more seats to acquire a majority in the 664-member, two-house parliament. For the upper house, the count was 77 to 4.
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Despite Sein’s stated commitment to accept the election results, history suggests that Myanmar’s military, which has ruled in a few form or another since the 1960s, may not allow Suu Kyi and the NLD to take control of the country’s legislative and executive branches.
Myanmar’s President Thein Sein (L) leaves after casting his vote in Naypyidaw on November 8, 2015. “Though onlookers expected the NLD to win the elections, there have been widespread questions on whether or not the military, which has led Myanmar for the past 5 decades, would adjust for the outcome”.
He antagonized the military while in parliament and built close ties to Suu Kyi, arousing the suspicion of many in his party. “It was an election for a spot in a shared government with the army”.
The President’s Office said the government will respect the choice and decision of the people made in the three-tier general elections on Sunday and will carry out transfer of power calmly and peacefully. The 2008 constitution was amended by the military-backed government specifically to prevent Suu Kyi from taking the executive post.
She sent letters to Min Aung Hlaing, President Thein Sein and parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann, urging them to recognise the popular mandate.
Historically, Southeast Asian nations have struggled with power transfers, he said.
A united church in Myanmar has put the full weight of its prayer into this election throughout this year, asking God for peace and freedom to come to this land at last.
“We know we won 80 percent… hopefully we will get confirmation today”, said Ko Ko, who runs an air-conditioning company in Yangon. “Tatmadaw will continue to strengthen the multi-party democracy system”, he said. Analysts say the key to a functioning government will be cooperation between Suu Kyi and the military. Few doubt that the military inserted the clause to rule her out.
The statement thanked all stakeholders for participation in the elections and making it a success, praising and honouring Suu Kyi for her efficiency in winning people’s support for her party. “He will have no authority. That he will act in accordance with the positions of the party”.
Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) took 56 of the 61 lower house seats announced on Wednesday as it continued to sweep towards a landslide.
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For the NLD to have the winning majority and be able to select the president, it will need at least two-thirds of those seats.
