Myanmar’s navy representatives and lawmakers take oath throughout a Parliament session at Decrease Home in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, on March 16, 2026.
| Picture Credit score: AP
Myanmar’s Parliament convened on Monday (March 16, 2026) for the primary time since a coup 5 years in the past, in one of many last steps in a nominal return to democracy the place its highly effective navy retains tight management.
The gathering of the brand new Parliament comes after a current phased election that’s dominated by the Military-backed Union Solidarity and Growth Get together (USDP) amid low voter turnout and no viable Opposition.
USDP chairman and retired brigadier-general Khin Yi was elected Decrease Home Speaker on Monday (March 16, 2026). Reuters had earlier reported Khin Yi had been touted for the function, which is seen by some analysts as pivotal for the navy in advancing its agenda.
Myanmar has been affected by civil conflict and a humanitarian disaster affecting tens of millions of its individuals since its generals staged a 2021 coup in opposition to the federal government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, simply because it was making ready for a second five-year time period in workplace following a landslide election win.
Many Western nations have dismissed the newest election as a sham designed to entrench navy rule and earn the generals legitimacy after 5 years as pariahs tainted by sanctions and barred from prime worldwide summits.
Navy-dominated legislature
The USDP, created by the navy in 2010, received 81% of obtainable seats and will likely be joined within the bicameral Parliament by scores of navy officers hand-picked by the armed forces, which below the structure is allotted 1 / 4 of legislative seats.
The navy’s huge illustration and its affect over the USDP successfully places the legislature below its management, giving the highest brass the ability to find out the Presidency, with junta chief and coup chief Min Aung Hlaing broadly anticipated to take the submit himself.
“This degree of management makes it clear that one can anticipate nothing substantial from this physique; it’s evidently a Parliament that may function solely on the whim of the navy chief,” stated Htin Kyaw Aye, an impartial analyst.
“It’s merely a manoeuvre by the navy management to shift energy from their left hand to their proper hand,” he stated.
Superbody to be shaped
As well as, a brand new five-member panel, the Union Consultative Council, will likely be established in what some specialists have known as a “super-body” that may enable Min Aung Hlaing to keep up his grip on each navy and civilian administration.
The junta has defied criticism of the election, insisting it mirrored the desire of the individuals. It has stated a brand new authorities can be shaped in April and has predicted an easing of sanctions and higher worldwide engagement and overseas funding.
A commentary in Monday’s state-run World New Mild of Myanmar on the formation of Parliament stated the complete nation hoped for the perfect political circumstances the place the nationwide curiosity is prioritised.
“In finishing up political actions, they have to act courageously for the great of the nation, free from private bias, social gathering bias, and emotions of favouritism or hostility,” it stated.
Printed – March 16, 2026 11:58 am IST