Myanmar Parliament Meets, USDP Secures Majority
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- Myanmar’s parliament met for the first time since the 2021 coup, with 337 lawmakers attending the opening session of the 440‑seat Pyithu Hluttaw.
- Khin Yi (USDP chairman, former general and police chief) was elected speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw, calling the session a “historic and proud day.”
- Maung Maung Ohn, the current minister of information, was elected deputy speaker of the lower house.
- Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won 231 of the 264 contested lower‑house seats and 108 of the 157 contested upper‑house seats, while the military retains a quarter of seats in each house.
- Union Consultative Council is a five‑member body created by the junta, expected to oversee both military and civilian administrations and give Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing a formal mechanism to retain control.
- Human Rights Watch called the election a “desperate bid for international legitimacy after nearly five years of brutal military repression,” and the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar condemned the junta’s “absurd rebrand.”
- ASEAN has not recognized the election results, though Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro expressed optimism that the transition could yield something positive.
Why it matters: The USDP’s sweep of the lower‑house seats and the military’s reserved quota cement the junta’s legislative grip, marginalizing opposition parties and reducing any genuine democratic influence; meanwhile, the new Union Consultative Council gives Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing a formal mechanism to steer both military and civilian governance.
