Suu Kyi, who heads the National League for Democracy (NLD), met the current parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann, in the capital city of Naypyidaw on 15 November.
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In a call with Suu Kyi, Obama “commended her for her tireless efforts and sacrifice over so many years to promote a more inclusive, peaceful and democratic Burma”, the White House said.
Moreover, the country’s military leadership was now anxious about Suu Kyi appointing a proxy president, while she would remain above the presidency.
In a letter sent to fellow Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said the election result was “a reflection of the people’s confidence that you will be able to help them fulfill their hopes and aspirations”.
By voting for the NLD en masse the ethnic minorities, consisting of about 40 percent of Myanmar’s total population, have entrusted Suu Kyi with a responsibility she may find it hard to live up to. The ANP won 22 of 29 national level seats in Rakhine and took 22 of the 35 elected seats in the state’s regional assembly, one of the strongest showings by an ethnic party in the election.
Thein Sein also pledged to “send invitations for the convening of the second parliament” in accordance with “established procedures”, although he did not specify when that would be. “We will hand this process (of reform) on to a new government”. The military automatically receives 25 percent of the seats in each house of Parliament. The USDP is made up largely for former junta members.
Under the military-drafted constitution, the army chief will appoint three key ministers – for defence, border affairs and the interior, with control of security forces – as well as 25 per cent of MPs. She had been confined for the best part of two decades.
There are a few possible interpretations of what national reconciliation may mean for the NLD, the President and the military. Any constitutional changes, however, are likely to be purely cosmetic as the NLD is not prepared to mount a direct challenge to the military.
I recently saw your interview with Channel News Asia, where you stated that you wish to circumvent the Constitution after the landslide victory of your party, the NLD, because it doesn’t allow you to become President for having a foreign spouse and children.
She has the power to select a president because of her party’s parliamentary majority, with the candidate chosen in a vote of the new NLD-dominated legislature in February.
In the short term, an NLD-led government is expected to have an impact on the economy, and in particular in curbing corruption and cronyism.
Similarly, villagers uprooted by mining and infrastructure projects want justice that has been in short supply under the present, military-backed government.
Mya Pwint Phyu and 11 of her colleagues at the Cherry stationary shop in the central city of Mandalay sat at polling stations on the day of the election, paying close attention to voting inside the city’s old palace, which is now a military compound occupied by soldiers and their families.
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Several groups declined to sign the truce in October until the government agreed to include all 21 ethnic rebel groups in the talks, according to the rebels’ umbrella group United Nationalities Federal Council. Mr Thein has launched a national ceasefire agreement initiative, including only eight of almost 20 armed groups, even as the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) launches fresh offensives in Kachin and Shan states.
