Government
National government
Vietnam's new president sworn into office
Vietnam’s National Assembly on 2 April swore in Tran Dai Quang, Minister of Public Security, as president, who promised to “push forward with comprehensive reforms” in the country. Among the 481 valid votes, 452 – or 91.5 percent of the total 494 members of the unicameral house ...
Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung leaves office
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung officially stepped down from the position after concluding two five-year terms in a National Assembly session on 6 April. “Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung has fulfilled all his tasks during his terms,” President Tran Dai Quang said in the session. Keep reading ...
Daw Suu to get new powers under draft law
A draft law that would create a key pivotal post in government specifically designed for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar is to be debated in the upper house on 1 April, although a senior MP denied that she would in effect become prime ...
Wissanu confirms election to take place in 2017
The first general election in two years will definitely take place next year regardless of the referendum’s outcome although it may not be in July as planned earlier, according to Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam. Keep reading ...
‘Super Minister’ Suu Kyi to Remain NLD’s Leader
Chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi will continue to lead the National League for Democracy (NLD), despite holding ministerial positions that constitutionally ban her from party activities, according to the NLD spokesperson. Burma’s 2008 Constitution states that if a government minister is a member of any political ...
Suu Kyi listed among NLD cabinet nominees
Aung San Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy chairwoman, was named on 22 March on a list of 18 Union-level ministers announced by Myanmar’s Parliament, all but ensuring she will be a member of the incoming government’s cabinet. Keep reading ...
Vietnam’s parliament to elect new president, prime minister next month
Vietnamese legislators are set to elect the country’s new prime minister in a secret ballot on April 7 during a National Assembly session. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is expected to have a speech to conclude his term on April 6 before officially stepping down from the position on ...
Laos placed in top quarter of global peace rankings
Laos has been ranked 41st out of 162 countries in terms of peace, according to the recent Global Peace Index 2015 (GPI) report. The report ranked countries in five categories from ‘Very High’ to ‘Very Low’, and had Laos in the second best ‘High’ grouping alongside ...
NLD set to claim presidency
Myanmar’s parliament is set to vote on 15 March for the new president and two vice presidents – despite a last-minute attempt by the military to derail one nomination – with the NLD confident its large majority will see U Htin Kyaw elected as Daw Aung ...
Suu Kyi calls for public support of presidential nominees
Aung San Suu Kyi called for the ongoing support of the Myanmar people on the morning of vice presidential nominations within the Parliament. In a statement signed by the National League for Democracy (NLD) chairwoman and released on 10 March, the Myanmar democracy leader said the selection of the ...