Aung San Suu Kyi Is Set For Landslide Victory In Myanmar Free Elections

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Myanmar

Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League of Democracy (NDL) in Myanmar (former Burma) is set for a majority win in the first free elections held in the country for over 25 years. 

Her party has so far won the first 12 declared parliamentary seats. According to the Christian anti-persecution charity, the predicted landslide victory for the opposition party could hail a new beginning for Myanmar. ITV reports that the ruling party has conceded defeat, effectively handing victory to the NDL.

Premier Christian Radio reports:

Andy Dipper, Chief Operating Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide was speaking after The National League of Democracy said it had won around 70% of the votes counted, meaning the party will dominate parliament.

Mr Dipper told Premier’s News Hour that Aung San Suu Kyi has been waiting for this day for a very long time: “She knows of course what happened in 1990, when it was very clear that the people had stood and they’d voted and said ‘we want democracy’.

“But the ruling military said no, you are not going to have any of that.

“And she has been waiting in the wings all these last 25 years.”

But he also noted that she is unable to take up the leadership position (because the constitution blocks anyone with foreign children from holding the post) and commented that the military are automatically entitled to 25% of the seats in parliament.

However he called it a victory nonetheless: “Many of the parties and candidates that are standing in these elections are saying ‘well, I guess something is better than nothing’, and they are hopeful that that will be sufficient.

Myanmar
Aung San Suu Kyi with the Dalai Lama

“But the military do to retain the ultimate right to kick out those elected individuals if they so wish.

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