Myanmar promised ‘smooth and stable’ transition

Myanmar President Thein Sein has promised a “smooth” transition during a meeting with political parties, a week after the landmark election.

Results from the election commission confirmed National League for Democracy’s (NLD) thumping victory in after the first free nationwide election in 25 years.

On Friday, the NLD clinched a majority of the seats in parliament to elect a president and form a government when incoming lawmakers convene next year.

“All duties would be transferred to the next government systematically according to the schedule,” Thein Sein told members of the political parties in Yangon on Sunday ahead of the last session of the old parliament, which reconvenes on Monday.

“We will make sure it will be smooth and stable without having to worry about anything. I’d like to call on the [political] parties which were not elected in the elections to be involved in the extra parliamentary politics.

“Then, a democratic system could be active.”

Thein Sein, whose semi-civilian government took power when the military government stepped aside in 2011, and powerful army chief Min Aung Hlaing, said they would respect the result and hold reconciliation talks with Aung San Suu Kyi soon.

The NLD, too, added it was seeking national reconciliation in the country.

“Our party policy, which we have been holding until today, is national reconciliation,” said NLD spokesperson, Nyan Win.

“I want to say that we will keep holding this policy in the future and in a peaceful way as well.” 

Despite the landslide win, Suu Kyi will not be able to become president as the constitution bars her from holding that post because she married a British citizen and her children have British passports.

However, she confirmed that she will run the country through a proxy chosen by her party. She could also push for the amendment of the constitution, allowing her to eventually become president.