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Aung San Suu Kyi hints at victory in Myanmar poll despite delays Myanmar election: Aung San Suu Kyi's party heading for decisive victory
(about 1 hour later)
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has hinted at victory in Myanmar’s first free elections for decades despite an unexpected delay in the release of the results. Myanmar’s opposition NLD party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, says it is on track to win more than 70% of seats in the country’s historic election – a tally that could sweep it to power and end decades of military dominance.
In her first comments after Sunday’s elections, she told a crowd gathered at the National League for Democracy (NLD) party headquarters in Yangon that the results would not be announced as soon as had been expected, “but I think you all have the idea of the results”. The National League for Democracy’s hopes of a decisive victory increased as Myanmar’s election commission began to release results from across the country. The NLD won 15 of the first 16 seats announced, prompting celebratory scenes among supporters outside party headquarters in Yangon.
Related: Myanmar elections: Aung San Suu Kyi's party claims it is heading for landslide As results come in, NLD supporters cheering and clapping #Yangon #myanmar pic.twitter.com/g7cKjTgRRY
A total of 498 seats are being contested in the upper and lower houses of Myanmar’s parliament. More results are expected to be announced throughout Monday. “We will win a landslide,” Nyan Win, a party spokesman, told the Associated Press.
Related: Myanmar elections: Aung San Suu Kyi's party wins all 12 of the first seats declared - live
Aung San Suu Kyi earlier hinted at victory in Myanmar’s first free elections for decades, despite an unexpected delay in the release of the results.
In her first comments since the elections, she told a crowd gathered in Yangon that the results would not be announced as soon as had been expected, “but I think you all have the idea of the results”.
“It is still a bit early to congratulate our candidates who will be the winners,” she said. “I want to remind you all that even candidates who didn’t win have to accept the winners, but it is important not to provoke the candidates who didn’t win to make them feel bad.”“It is still a bit early to congratulate our candidates who will be the winners,” she said. “I want to remind you all that even candidates who didn’t win have to accept the winners, but it is important not to provoke the candidates who didn’t win to make them feel bad.”
An NLD spokesman said it was on course to win more than 70% of seats in parliament, enough to form a government, though the election commission has yet to announce any official results. It had been due to reveal preliminary results at 9am on Monday morning but has delayed until the afternoon. A big crowd of NLD supporters had gathered on Sunday evening in Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon under the British empire, to cheer, dance and wave red flags.
The Union Election Commission said its chairman would give a media conference at 3pm local time (0830 GMT) with results announced at 6pm. The final tally is expected on Tuesday. As many polling stations counted into the early hours of Monday morning, there were signs the NLD was set for a convincing victory. Htay Oo, the acting chairman of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development party, conceded that his party had lost more seats than it gained. “We have a higher percentage of losses than wins,” he said. “The results are not yet official but we accept any outcome,” he added.
A big crowd of supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD party had gathered on Sunday evening at the group’s headquarters in Yangon, formerly Rangoon under the British empire, to cheer, dance and wave red flags.
As many polling stations counted into the early hours of Monday morning, there were signs that the NLD was set for a convincing victory.
Htay Oo, the acting chairman of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development party, conceded that his party had lost more seats than it gained. “We have a higher percentage of losses than wins,” he said. “The results are not yet official but we accept any outcome,” he added.
House speaker and former ruling party chair Shwe Mann conceded defeat in the central Bago region. Other districts showed NLD gains although it was hard to tell if they represented the rest of the country.House speaker and former ruling party chair Shwe Mann conceded defeat in the central Bago region. Other districts showed NLD gains although it was hard to tell if they represented the rest of the country.
Related: Aung San Suu Kyi looks to Myanmar poll victory at climax of lifelong campaignRelated: Aung San Suu Kyi looks to Myanmar poll victory at climax of lifelong campaign
The official Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper ran its Monday headline as “Dawn of a New Era” and said turnout was estimated at 70%, with 30 million eligible voters.The official Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper ran its Monday headline as “Dawn of a New Era” and said turnout was estimated at 70%, with 30 million eligible voters.
“We’re leading the race but we can’t say for sure we’ll win two-thirds of the seats in parliament. That would enable us to form an independent government without forming a coalition,” said NLD senior official and spokesman Han Tha Myint. Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent much of the past quarter-century under house arrest, is barred from the presidency by a junta-drafted constitution.
The once-outlawed NLD is expected to win the popular vote, although Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent much of the past quarter-century under house arrest, is barred from the presidency by a junta-drafted constitution. A key concern, that the army generals would annul the vote as they did when the Nobel peace prize laureate won a landslide in 1990, was rebuffed in the capital, Naypyidaw, where military commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing said there was “no reason not to accept the election results”, according to state media.
Yet a key concern, that the army generals would annul the vote as they did when the Nobel peace prize laureate won a landslide in 1990, was rebuffed in the capital, Naypyidaw, where military commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing said there was “no reason not to accept the election results”, according to state media. Labelled an “outpost of tyranny” by the US only 10 years ago, Myanmar has carried out reforms, releasing most political prisoners and allowing an independent press to operate. However, elections in 2010, in which current president Thein Sein came to power, were widely dismissed as a sham.
Labelled an “outpost of tyranny” by the US only 10 years ago, Myanmar has reformed by releasing most political prisoners and allowing an independent press to operate. Although elections in 2010, which saw current president Thein Sein come to power, were widely dismissed as a sham.
The 2015 polls were observed by around 10,000 election monitors, including many from the European Union and United Nations, and early indications from monitors suggested a largely transparent process.The 2015 polls were observed by around 10,000 election monitors, including many from the European Union and United Nations, and early indications from monitors suggested a largely transparent process.
Yet the main concerns over fairness were raised ahead of election day, with an estimated 4 million Burmese living abroad unable to vote and the exclusion of around a million Rohingya Muslims, a stateless and persecuted minority. Yet concerns over fairness were raised ahead of election day, with an estimated 4 million Burmese living abroad unable to vote and the exclusion of around a million Rohingya Muslims, a stateless and persecuted minority.
The army has also enshrined its power in the constitution – reserving 25% of parliament seats – keeping the most powerful ministerial portfolios and banning Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency as she has foreign family members. Her late husband was a British academic and she has two British sons.The army has also enshrined its power in the constitution – reserving 25% of parliament seats – keeping the most powerful ministerial portfolios and banning Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency as she has foreign family members. Her late husband was a British academic and she has two British sons.
Jason Carter, grandson of former US president Jimmy Carter and an international election observer, said monitors would release a full evaluation “including the political context in which this election is occurring” on Tuesday. Jason Carter, grandson of former US president Jimmy Carter and an international election observer, said monitors would release a full evaluation, “including the political context in which this election is occurring”, on Tuesday.
Many in the country are worried about the post-election period, when Aung San Suu Kyi — who boldly announced last week she would be “above the president” — will negotiate power-sharing with the military.Many in the country are worried about the post-election period, when Aung San Suu Kyi — who boldly announced last week she would be “above the president” — will negotiate power-sharing with the military.
Related: Myanmar elections: What is happening? Your questions answeredRelated: Myanmar elections: What is happening? Your questions answered
Thai security forces along the Myanmar border, where multiple ethnic conflicts have raged, have been put on alert in preparation for violence following the election, the Bangkok Post reported in neighbouring Thailand.Thai security forces along the Myanmar border, where multiple ethnic conflicts have raged, have been put on alert in preparation for violence following the election, the Bangkok Post reported in neighbouring Thailand.
Polls were cancelled in nearly 600 village areas, mostly in the conflict-affected states of Kachin and Shan, the election commission said, adding that a lack of security would not allow for transparent polling.Polls were cancelled in nearly 600 village areas, mostly in the conflict-affected states of Kachin and Shan, the election commission said, adding that a lack of security would not allow for transparent polling.
John Kerry, the US secretary of state, said in a statement that the election was an important step forward, but added it was “far from perfect”.John Kerry, the US secretary of state, said in a statement that the election was an important step forward, but added it was “far from perfect”.
“A peaceful post-election period is crucial for stability and maintaining the confidence of the people in the credibility of the electoral process and the overall political transition,” he said.“A peaceful post-election period is crucial for stability and maintaining the confidence of the people in the credibility of the electoral process and the overall political transition,” he said.
As the army is guaranteed blocs in parliament, the NLD must take 67% of all contested seats in order to gain a majority. If the party does that and forms a government, it will be the first democratically elected one since the early 1960s. As the army is guaranteed blocs in parliament, the NLD must take 67% of all contested seats in order to gain a majority. If the party succeeds and forms a government, it will be the first democratically elected administration since the early 1960s.
Aung San Suu Kyi has promised to amend a constitution she has denounced as “very silly”.Aung San Suu Kyi has promised to amend a constitution she has denounced as “very silly”.
The incumbent USDP would need far fewer seats as it is backed by of the military. Some 91 parties have contested the election in a country of around 51 million people. The incumbent USDP would need far fewer seats as it is backed by the military. Ninety-one parties have contested the election in a country of about 51 million people.