National government
Parliament
Myanmar government drives up budget deficit with additional spending
President U Thein Sein’s outgoing government has submitted a supplementary budget request to parliament of K2.464 trillion (US$1.92 billion) with the defence ministry in line to receive the largest allocation, while health and education spending remain close to the bottom of the list. If approved by ...
Myanmar's outgoing MPs ease back in to work
As parliamentarians arrived at the vast entrance hall to the Pyithu Hluttaw on 16 November morning, they were doing their best to keep their expressions neutral – none more so than the last to arrive. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is known for maintaining a steely expression ...
Ethnic parties concerned over limited voice in 2016 parliament
Ethnic political leaders are concerned over their marginal collective role in Myanmar’s next Parliament, with the majority of ethnic parties enjoying few gains in 8 November’s general election. “It’s like we have been hit by a tsunami,” said Sai Aung Myint Khaing, a central committee member of ...
President to parties: Stability during transition is responsibility of all
As if to reflect the sea change that has overtaken the country’s politics in the past week, representatives of the National League for Democracy – still officially the opposition party – were seated at the head of the table at a meeting with President U Thein ...
Rainsy vows to return amid threats of arrest
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy is scheduled to return to Phnom Penh on 16 November where he could face arrest and a two-year prison sentence over a defamation case dating back to 2008, his party said on 15 November. Eng Chhay Eang, a spokesman of the opposition Cambodia ...
Myanmar President to meet political parties on 15 November
President U Thein Sein has called political parties to a meeting in Yangon on 15 November to discuss the post-election political situation, party sources say. U Nay Min Kyaw, secretary of National Democratic Force (NDF), said that an invitation letter sent to the party stated that ...
Business leaders see brighter future in NLD win
Business leaders have welcomed the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) thumping victory in the 8 November election, saying the opposition is well poised to drive economic growth when it forms the next government in March. Industry insiders say that the change of government is certain to lead ...
Myanmar polls a success: international observers
Despite criticism of Myanmar’s “flawed” constitutional framework, international observers on 10 November gave a largely positive appraisal of the elections, commending a well-run election day while highlighting major issues such as an opaque system of advance voting. The Carter Center, the Asian Network for Free Elections, and ...
UEC frustrates with lack of results
Confident of having secured a landslide victory, the opposition National League for Democracy is being frustrated by the slow release of officially sanctioned results by the Union Election Commission. The UEC, headed by ex-general U Tin Aye, says it is working with full transparency and yesterday ...
Aung San Suu Kyi: NLD has won election majority
Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi has told the BBC she believes her party has won a parliamentary majority, in her first interview since the historic elections. Early results point to a sweeping victory for her National League for Democracy (NLD), but final official results will not ...
