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US commends 'free and fair' Myanmar election as NLD closes in on victory US commends 'free and fair' Myanmar election as NLD closes in on victory
(35 minutes later)
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is just 38 seats away from claiming a parliamentary majority in Myanmar’s historic election as more results are gradually released by the country’s election commission.Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is just 38 seats away from claiming a parliamentary majority in Myanmar’s historic election as more results are gradually released by the country’s election commission.
Related: Myanmar elections: What is happening? Your questions answeredRelated: Myanmar elections: What is happening? Your questions answered
The spokesman for Myanmar’s president said on Thursday that US president Barack Obama has called to congratulate Thein Sein for holding “free and fair” elections. The White House has not yet confirmed the details of the call. The spokesman for Myanmar’s president said on Thursday that Barack Obama had called to congratulate Thein Sein for holding “free and fair” elections. The White House has not yet confirmed the details of the call.
By noon on Thursday in the capital of Naypyidaw, the electoral commission had announced two more batches of seats for the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, taking it to only 38 seats shy of a majority, for which it needs to win 329 seats across both lower and upper houses of parliament. By noon on Thursday in the capital of Naypyidaw, the electoral commission had announced two more batches of seats for the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, taking it to fewer than 40 seats shy of a majority, for which it needs to win 329 seats across the lower and upper houses of parliament.
The NLD has now taken more than 50% of the seats that were up for election in both houses of parliament. However, because 25% of seats were ringfenced for the military before the poll, the NLD must secure 67% of the elected positions – which amounts to 329 seats – in order to win a majority. The NLD has taken more than 50% of the seats that were up for election in both houses of parliament. However, because 25% of seats were ringfenced for the military before the poll, the NLD must secure 67% of the elected positions – 329 seats – to win a majority.
In the latest standings, NLD now have 291 seats across both houses and USDP have 33. With several more announcements planned for the day, it is possible the NLD will claim victory on Thursday. In the latest standings, NLD has 291 seats across both houses and the USDP has 33. With several more announcements planned for the day, it is possible the NLD will claim victory on Thursday.
This is President Thein Sein speaking to @BarackObama . We've not heard if Thein Sein has called Suu Kyi yet. pic.twitter.com/WTOJRNeQkyThis is President Thein Sein speaking to @BarackObama . We've not heard if Thein Sein has called Suu Kyi yet. pic.twitter.com/WTOJRNeQky
Spokesman Ye Htut had earlier said the government would “obey” the results and work to transfer power peacefully, after offering congratulations to Aung San Suu Kyi. The president’s spokesman, Ye Htut, had earlier said the government would “obey” the results and work to transfer power peacefully, after offering congratulations to Aung San Suu Kyi. Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s powerful army chief, also sent congratulations.
Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s powerful army chief, also sent congratulations.
“We will respect and obey the decision of the electorate,” Ye Htut, also the minister of information, said on his Facebook page. “We will work peacefully in the transfer [of power]” he said. “Congratulations … to the chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi and her party for gathering the support of the people.”“We will respect and obey the decision of the electorate,” Ye Htut, also the minister of information, said on his Facebook page. “We will work peacefully in the transfer [of power]” he said. “Congratulations … to the chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi and her party for gathering the support of the people.”
An NLD government would be the first administration not chosen by the country’s military establishment and their political allies for more than half a century, most of that time under army dictatorship.An NLD government would be the first administration not chosen by the country’s military establishment and their political allies for more than half a century, most of that time under army dictatorship.
The current leaders and military figures have signalled they will accept the potentially overwhelming defeat, stamping out fears of a repeat of the 1990 election. Aung San Suu Kyi won but the results were promptly annulled and her colleagues imprisoned. The current leaders and military figures have signalled they will accept the potentially overwhelming defeat, stamping out fears of a repeat of the 1990 election, which Aung San Suu Kyi won but the results were promptly annulled and her colleagues imprisoned.
On Thursday, the headline for the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper read: “Welcoming the New Guard”.On Thursday, the headline for the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper read: “Welcoming the New Guard”.
As we wait for next batch of results, an extraordinary #MyanmarElection week in GNLM front pages pic.twitter.com/xOekiw4nA1As we wait for next batch of results, an extraordinary #MyanmarElection week in GNLM front pages pic.twitter.com/xOekiw4nA1
The apparent acceptance of the results is at odds with the track record of a reclusive military elite who isolated the country for decades and detained its critics and political opposition.The apparent acceptance of the results is at odds with the track record of a reclusive military elite who isolated the country for decades and detained its critics and political opposition.
However, most powerful ministerial positions – home, defence and border affairs – will be reserved for the Myanmar armed forces, or Tatmadaw. The army also has a automatic hold of a quarter of seats in parliament, meaning an NLD majority of 329 seats would make up 67% of both houses. However, most powerful ministerial positions – home, defence and border affairs – will be reserved for the Myanmar armed forces, or Tatmadaw. The army also has a automatic hold of a quarter of seats in parliament.
Know as “Mother Suu”, the British-educated politician is also blocked by the Myanmar constitution from the country’s top post, although she has vowed to be “above the president”. She said on Tuesday that the president would “have no authority” and “will act in accordance with the decisions of the party”. Know as “Mother Suu”, the British-educated politician is also blocked by the Myanmar constitution from the country’s top post, although she has vowed to be “above the president”. She said on Tuesday the president would have no authority and would “act in accordance with the decisions of the party”.
Many in the country of 51 million hope the NLD will push through political reforms but also develop the country’s struggling education and health systems, and create jobs in south-east Asia’s poorest nation. Many in the country of 51 million people hope the NLD will push through political reforms but also develop the struggling education and health systems and create jobs in south-east Asia’s poorest state.
“The NLD-led new government needs to make a clean break from the previous Burmese governments’ poor rights record,” said Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division. “The NLD-led new government needs to make a clean break from the previous Burmese governments’ poor rights record,” said Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia division. “For decades, Burmese officials have had a full bookshelf of repressive laws to pull down and use to justify political repression and criminalisation of basic freedoms to express views, hold protests, and establish organisations and groups, and it’s time to thin out that bookcase.”
Related: The Guardian view on Myanmar’s elections: a notable victory, but tough times still lie ahead | EditorialRelated: The Guardian view on Myanmar’s elections: a notable victory, but tough times still lie ahead | Editorial
“For decades, Burmese officials have had a full bookshelf of repressive laws to pull down and use to justify political repression and criminalisation of basic freedoms to express views, hold protests, and establish organisations and groups, and it’s time to thin out that bookcase.” On Wednesday, Aung San Suu Kyi invited the army chief, president and the parliamentary speaker to discuss the election and national reconciliation. Months of political haggling will take place before a president is chosen.
On Wednesday, Aung San Suu Kyi invited the army chief, president and the parliamentary speaker to discuss the election and “national reconciliation”. Months of political haggling will take place before a president is chosen. The government’s Union Election Commission has gradually released results over the four days since polling on Sunday, all of which have shown the NLD beating the Union Solidarity and Development party.
The government’s Union Election Commission has released results in batches over the four days since polling on Sunday, all of which have shown the NLD beating the incumbent Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP).
There are 168 contested seats in the upper house of parliament and 330 in the lower house, although seven of those lower house seats were cancelled due to fighting with insurgent groups in border areas. That amounts to a total of 491 seats to be contested in both houses.There are 168 contested seats in the upper house of parliament and 330 in the lower house, although seven of those lower house seats were cancelled due to fighting with insurgent groups in border areas. That amounts to a total of 491 seats to be contested in both houses.
The NLD has now won 291 seats across both houses of parliament and the USDP has 33. A senior NLD figure told the Guardian that unofficial party results showed it had won 82% of contested seats. A senior NLD figure told the Guardian that unofficial party results showed it had won 82% of contested seats.