Myanmar Convenes First Parliament in Five Years Under Military Dominance

Myanmar on Monday opened its first parliamentary session in more than five years following elections widely criticised for excluding major opposition parties, effectively consolidating the military’s grip on power.

The parliament’s reconvening comes after the military seized control of the country in the 2021 Myanmar coup d’état, overthrowing the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and suspending the legislature.

The new session took place in the capital, Naypyitaw, where lawmakers gathered at the heavily guarded parliamentary complex for the opening of the 373-seat lower house.

Security was tight around the complex, with roads sealed and vehicles searched for explosives before being allowed entry.

The parliament was convened following elections held in December and January, which the military government described as a step toward restoring democratic governance. However, critics say the process lacked credibility as major opposition groups, including the National League for Democracy, were either barred from contesting or refused to participate under what they described as unfair electoral conditions.

According to official results, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party secured an overwhelming majority of seats.

During Monday’s session, Khin Yi, a former general and police chief, was elected speaker of the lower house. He is widely regarded as a close ally of the country’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing.

Another former general and ex-information minister, Maung Maung Ohn, was elected deputy speaker.

Under Myanmar’s military-drafted constitution, the armed forces are automatically allocated 25 per cent of the seats in parliament. In the latest vote, the USDP and allied parties also captured the majority of the remaining contested seats, giving pro-military lawmakers nearly 90 per cent of the total representation.

The 213-seat upper house is scheduled to convene on Wednesday, while regional legislatures are expected to open two days later.

Parliament’s immediate responsibilities include electing speakers for both chambers and subsequently choosing a president and two vice presidents.

Observers expect Min Aung Hlaing, who currently heads the military government, to emerge as president. However, the constitution prohibits a sitting president from simultaneously serving as the army’s commander-in-chief, raising questions about whether he would relinquish that position.

The political developments come amid ongoing instability following the 2021 coup, which sparked widespread protests and plunged the country into a prolonged civil conflict.

Meanwhile, an opposition shadow legislature formed by lawmakers who were prevented from taking office after the coup also held an online session on Monday, maintaining that it remains the country’s only legitimate parliament.

Suu Kyi, now 80, is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence on charges widely viewed by critics as politically motivated. Her party had won landslide victories in the 2015 and 2020 elections before it was forced to dissolve in 2023 after refusing to register under new military electoral rules.