Talks continue between Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar’s military leadership ahead of transfer of power
The country’s 2008 junta-drafted constitution guarantees the armed forces a quarter of the seats in the parliament, a constitutional veto and three security ministries.
Myanmar’s democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi has held talks on the transfer of power with army chief Min Aung Hlaing, before a parliament dominated by lawmakers from her National League for Democracy (NLD) convenes for the first time next week.
It was the second meeting between the pair since Suu Kyi’s party won nearly 80 per cent of contested seats at a historic election last November – a victory that seems poised to give Myanmar its first democratically elected government in decades.
The military is Myanmar’s single most powerful institution, experts say, and anyone who wants to hold power needs its cooperation.
Both sides cordially exchanged views on transition and peace and stability
The country’s 2008 junta-drafted constitution guarantees the armed forces a quarter of the seats in the parliament, a constitutional veto and three security ministries.
“Both sides cordially exchanged views on transition and peace and stability in the post-election period, the parliamentary affairs, the formation of the new government,” said a statement in English posted on Min Aung Hlaing’s Facebook page on Tuesday morning.
The talks lasted for about two hours and included top aides from both the military and the NLD.
The constitution bars Suu Kyi from becoming president because her children have British citizenship. The NLD leader has vowed to appoint a ceremonial president and lead the country nonetheless, “staying above the president”.