Myanmar election: Suu Kyi's NLD wins landslide victory

With more than 80% of contested seats now declared, Aung San Suu Kyi's party has more than the two-thirds it needs to choose the president, ending decades of military-backed rule.

A quarter of seats are automatically held by the military, meaning it remains hugely influential.

Under the constitution, Ms Suu Kyi cannot become president herself.

Despite this, the election was seen as the first openly contested poll in Myanmar - also known as Burma - in 25 years.

The Burmese like their numbers. So just maybe Myanmar's Union Election Commission waited for an auspicious day.

Five days after polls closed, and exactly five years to the day since Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest, her party's majority in parliament was confirmed.

This historic outcome had been clear, but unofficial since early results on Monday and Tuesday.

Earlier this week outside the headquarters of the NLD there had been jubilant scenes as results came in. Now as the majority was confirmed there was nobody. It may have been because the result was a foregone conclusion.

Or, more likely, the NLD were respecting the wishes of Aung San Suu Kyi. Earlier this week she called on her supporters to avoid triumphalism and respect the feelings of those that lost.

With votes still being counted, the NLD's tally rose to 369 seats later in the day. The final tally is not expected for several days.

The process of choosing a new president will begin in January, when parliament reconvenes.

Our correspondent says the election has been remarkable both in the peaceful and largely fair way it was run and by the response of the losing side.

Does the NLD now control Myanmar?

Not really - it has enough seats in the upper and lower house to choose the president but the army has 25% of seats and controls key ministries, so they will need to work together.

Will Aung San Suu Kyi be president?

No - the constitution, written by the military, bars people with foreign spouses or offspring, as she does, from the top job. The clause was widely seen as being written specifically to prevent her from taking office. But Ms Suu Kyi she has repeatedly said she would lead the country anyway if the NLD won.

Can the NLD just change the constitution?

No - the military can veto any moves to change it.

Was the election fair?

"Largely," said Aung San Suu Kyi. But hundreds of thousands of people, including the minority Muslim Rohingya, were not allowed to vote, and no voting took place in seven areas where ethnic conflict is rife.

Current President Thein Sein and the head of the military had already said they would respect the outcome and work with the new government.

They and the NLD are expected to begin talks next week on the way forward.

About 30 million people were eligible to vote in the election - turnout was estimated at about 80%.

It was widely seen as a fair vote though there were reports of irregularities, and hundreds of thousands of people - including the Muslim Rohingya minority, who are not recognised as citizens - were denied voting rights.

The ruling military-backed Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) - which won the last, widely criticised election five years ago - has so far gained about 5% of seats contested.

 

(BBC)