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Myanmar election: Suu Kyi's NLD wins landslide victory Myanmar election: Suu Kyi's NLD wins landslide victory
(about 1 hour later)
The National League for Democracy has won a landslide victory in Myanmar's historic election, say vote officials. Myanmar's opposition National League for Democracy has won a landslide election victory, officials say.
With more than 80% of seats declared, Aung San Suu Kyi's party has more than the two-thirds it needs to control parliament and choose the president, ending decades of military-backed rule. With more than 80% of seats declared from Sunday's poll, Aung San Suu Kyi's party has more than the two-thirds it needs to choose the president, ending to decades of military-backed rule.
But a quarter of seats were given uncontested to the military, meaning it remains hugely influential. But a quarter of seats were assigned uncontested to the military, meaning it remains hugely influential.
Under the constitution Ms Suu Kyi cannot become president herself.Under the constitution Ms Suu Kyi cannot become president herself.
It specifically bars anyone whose children were born foreign nationals from holding the job. Both her sons were born British. Despite this, the election was seen as the first openly contested poll in Myanmar - also known as Burma - in 25 years.
But Ms Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who spent decades under military-imposed house arrest, has insisted she would lead the country anyway if her party won. At the scene: Jonah Fisher, BBC News, Yangon
Military promises The Burmese like their numbers. So just maybe Myanmar's Union Election Commission waited for an auspicious day.
Sunday's election was the first openly contested poll in Myanmar - also known as Burma - in 25 years. Five days after polls closed, and exactly five years to the day since Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest ordered by the military, her party's majority in parliament was confirmed.
The election commission has slowly been releasing figures, and by early on Friday morning the NLD needed only two more votes to reach the threshold required to give it a majority in both houses of parliament. This historic outcome had been clear, but unofficial since early results on Monday and Tuesday.
Then in a midday announcement, vote officials said the NLD had taken 348 of the 664 seats in the two houses of parliament. Earlier this week outside the headquarters of the NLD there had been jubilant scenes as results came in. Now as the majority was confirmed there was nobody. It may have been because the result was a foregone conclusion.
Or, more likely, the NLD were respecting the wishes of Aung San Suu Kyi. Earlier this week she called on her supporters to avoid triumphalism and respect the feelings of those that lost.
Negotiation ahead
By early on Friday, the NLD needed only two more votes to reach the threshold required to give it a majority in both houses of parliament.
Then in a midday announcement, the electoral commission said the party had taken 348 of the 664 seats in the two houses of parliament.
Final results are not expected to come in for several days, while the process of choosing a new president will not begin until January, when parliament reconvenes.Final results are not expected to come in for several days, while the process of choosing a new president will not begin until January, when parliament reconvenes.
Our correspondent says the election has been remarkable both in the peaceful and largely fair way it was run and by the response of the losing side.
Current President Thein Sein and the head of the military have already said they would respect the outcome of the election and work with the new government.Current President Thein Sein and the head of the military have already said they would respect the outcome of the election and work with the new government.
About 30 million people were eligible to vote in the election, and turnout was estimated at about 80%. They and the NLD are expected to being talks next week on the way forward.
About 30 million people were eligible to vote in the election - turnout was estimated at about 80%.
It was widely seen as a fair vote though there were reports of irregularities, and hundreds of thousands of people - including the Muslim Rohingya minority, who are not recognised as citizens - were denied voting rights.It was widely seen as a fair vote though there were reports of irregularities, and hundreds of thousands of people - including the Muslim Rohingya minority, who are not recognised as citizens - were denied voting rights.
The ruling military-backed Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) - which won the last, widely criticised election five years ago - has so far gained about 5% of seats contested.The ruling military-backed Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) - which won the last, widely criticised election five years ago - has so far gained about 5% of seats contested.
Does the NLD now control Myanmar?
Not really - it has enough seats in the upper and lower house to choose the president but the army has 25% of seats and controls key ministries, so they will need to work together.
Will Aung San Suu Kyi be president?
No - the constitution, written by the military, bars people with foreign spouses or offspring, as she does, from the top job. The clause was widely seen as being written specifically to prevent her from taking office. But Ms Suu Kyi she has repeatedly said she would lead the country anyway if the NLD won.
Can the NLD just change the constitution?
No - the military can veto any moves to change it.
Was the election fair?
"Largely," said Aung San Suu Kyi. But hundreds of thousands of people, including the minority Muslim Rohingya, were not allowed to vote, and no voting took place in seven areas where ethnic conflict is rife.