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| US commends 'free and fair' Myanmar election as NLD closes in on majority | US commends 'free and fair' Myanmar election as NLD closes in on majority |
| (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 electoral 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 electoral commission. |
| Related: Myanmar elections: What is happening? Your questions answered | Related: Myanmar elections: What is happening? Your questions answered |
| The White House said on Thursday that Barack Obama had called Aung San Suu Kyi the previous day to congratulate her and her party’s successful campaign. The US president “commended her for her tireless efforts and sacrifice over so many years to promote a more inclusive, peaceful, and democratic Burma,” a statement said, adding he “noted that the election and formation of a new government could be an important step forward in Burma’s democratic transition”. | |
| He also called Myanmar’s current president, Thein Sein, on Wednesday to offer his congratulations. Thein Sein’s spokesman said earlier on Thursday that Obama had commended him for holding free and fair elections. | |
| On Thursday in the capital of Naypyidaw, the Myanmar electoral commission announced two more batches of seats for the National League for Democracy (NLD), taking the party to within 38 of the 329 seats it needs for a majority across the lower and upper houses of parliament. | On Thursday in the capital of Naypyidaw, the Myanmar electoral commission announced two more batches of seats for the National League for Democracy (NLD), taking the party to within 38 of the 329 seats it needs for a majority across the lower and upper houses of parliament. |
| 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 party must secure 67% of the elected positions. | 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 party must secure 67% of the elected positions. |
| In the latest standings, NLD has 291 seats across both houses and Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP) has 33. More results are scheduled to be released on Thursday and Friday. | In the latest standings, NLD has 291 seats across both houses and Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP) has 33. More results are scheduled to be released on Thursday and Friday. |
| In a statement, David Cameron, the UK prime minister, said: “These landmark elections are an important step towards democracy in Burma and a triumph for Burmese people, who have clearly voiced their desire for change. | In a statement, David Cameron, the UK prime minister, said: “These landmark elections are an important step towards democracy in Burma and a triumph for Burmese people, who have clearly voiced their desire for change. |
| “We urge all parties to work together now for a peaceful and orderly transition as the new government is formed.” | “We urge all parties to work together now for a peaceful and orderly transition as the new government is formed.” |
| This is President Thein Sein speaking to @BarackObama . We've not heard if Thein Sein has called Suu Kyi yet. pic.twitter.com/WTOJRNeQky | This is President Thein Sein speaking to @BarackObama . We've not heard if Thein Sein has called Suu Kyi yet. pic.twitter.com/WTOJRNeQky |
| Thein Sein’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. | Thein Sein’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. |
| “We will respect and obey the decision of the electorate,” Ye Htut, who is also the minister of information, said on his Facebook page. “We will work peacefully in the transfer [of power]. 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, who is also the minister of information, said on his Facebook page. “We will work peacefully in the transfer [of power]. 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 its 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 its 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, allaying fears of a repeat of the 1990 election, which 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, allaying 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/xOekiw4nA1 | As 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, which 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, which isolated the country for decades and detained its critics and political opposition. |
| However, the most powerful ministerial positions – home, defence and border affairs – will be reserved for Myanmar’s armed forces, or Tatmadaw. The army also has an automatic hold of a quarter of seats in parliament. | However, the most powerful ministerial positions – home, defence and border affairs – will be reserved for Myanmar’s armed forces, or Tatmadaw. The army also has an automatic hold of a quarter of seats in parliament. |
| Know as “Mother Suu”, the British-educated Aung San Suu Kyi is also blocked by the Myanmar constitution from holding 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”. | Know as “Mother Suu”, the British-educated Aung San Suu Kyi is also blocked by the Myanmar constitution from holding 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 people hope the NLD will push through political reforms but also develop the struggling education and health systems as well as create jobs in south-east Asia’s poorest state. | 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 as well as 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. “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.” | “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 | Editorial | Related: The Guardian view on Myanmar’s elections: a notable victory, but tough times still lie ahead | Editorial |
| 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 election commission has gradually released results over the four days since polling on Sunday, all of which have shown the NLD beating the USDP. | The government’s election commission has gradually released results over the four days since polling on Sunday, all of which have shown the NLD beating the USDP. |
| There are 168 contested seats in the upper house of parliament and 330 in the lower, although seven of those lower house seats were cancelled owing to fighting with insurgent groups in border areas. That amounts to a total of 491 seats to be contested across both houses. | There are 168 contested seats in the upper house of parliament and 330 in the lower, although seven of those lower house seats were cancelled owing to fighting with insurgent groups in border areas. That amounts to a total of 491 seats to be contested across both houses. |
| 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. |