bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Aung San Suu Kyi's party secured a landslide election victory in Myanmar yesterday, propelling the pro-democracy movement to power after a 25-year struggle against authoritarian rule.
It promises a new dawn for a country asphyxiated by half a century of army rule that battered the economy and repressed its people.
In a reflection of rapid changes that have swept the country, confirmation of the win came five years to the day since Suu Kyi was released from house arrest by the military.
She has now led her National League for Democracy (NLD) party to a massive popular mandate with more than 80 per cent of seats going to the movement.
The NLD yesterday sailed past the two-thirds majority it needs to rule, claiming 364 parliamentary seats with a number of results yet to be declared.
The election has won praise from observers for its smooth, peaceful passing, in a country where violence and repression has normally met democratic milestones.
"We have been ready to form a new government for many years," party spokesman Nyan Win said, greeting the result.
Suu Kyi has not spoken to the party faithful since Monday.
In Yangon, there were no immediate signs of celebration after the party figurehead urged restraint, aware of the threat of a backlash in a country where the army's writ remains large.
Under Myanmar's complex political system, the NLD will also have to wait until March next year for the transfer of power.
That gap has left some party loyalists nervous at the potential for political chicanery by an army establishment that wields substantial power, despite its chastening at the polls.
But the comfortable majority gives Suu Kyi's party control of the lower and upper houses, allowing it to elect the president and form the government.
The win represents a huge stride in Suu Kyi's decades-long journey from political prisoner, held under house arrest for 15 years by the former junta, to the heart of power. Many NLD supporters have waited 25 years for their vote to count.
"I'm so happy ... Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will do more for us than the current government," said Moe Thu, a 66-year-old street vendor.
Buoyed by her party's sweep of the polls, Suu Kyi has called for "national reconciliation talks" with President Thein Sein and army chief Min Aung Hlaing.
The country's military is not about to disappear. It retains major influence with its parliamentary bloc, which effectively assures a veto over constitutional change. It also has key ministerial posts reserved under the charter.
Many NLD supporters remain deeply suspicious of the army and its political allies, who are notorious for dirty tricks and crackdowns that have left hundreds dead and thousands jailed.


Myanmar junta pledges to remove former civil servants from blacklists

Myanmar’s loaded election brings win for junta allies: ‘What was the point?’

Myanmar’s junta carries out long-awaited elections, despite critics’ protests

Asean urged to rethink stance as Myanmar election risks normalising junta rule

Myanmar's democratic transition

Myanmar's pro-democracy NLD party secures commanding mandate after claiming 80 per cent of seats

A foreign visitor poses next to a graffiti depiction of Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi outside the headquarters of the National League for Democracy party in Yangon. Photo: AFP

'I'll be above the president...': Aung San Suu Kyi determined to lead despite the constitutional block on leading Myanmar

Voters have delivered a mandate for the NLD - and for Suu Kyi's leadership. Photo: EPA

The Sule Pagoda illuminates night-time Yangon.

Myanmar's constitution prevents NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi from replacing Thein Sein as president. Photo: AFP

Thein Sein

News

Asia

Southeast Asia