Myanmar election: Aung San Suu Kyi wins her seat

Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) has won an historic absolute majority in Myanmar’s parliament, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

As the announcement was made, the NLD seemed poised for a massive victory after a 25-year democracy struggle, and on the brink of a majority after taking more than 85 percent of the seats declared so far.

In a letter released by her party Wednesday, Suu Kyi affirmed the election victory, which has yet to be officially endorsed by the country’s election commission.

On Wednesday, the UEC announced that Suu Kyi had won the general polls and was re-elected as a representative to the House of Representatives of the next parliament.

In letters published in local media, Suu Kyi had requested a joint meeting with the commander in chief of Myanmar’s armed forces, the chairman of the parliament and Thein Sein.

On Wednesday, the U.S. president also called Suu Kyi to thank her for “tireless efforts and sacrifice over so many years” to promote peace and democracy. The two talked about the importance of all parties respecting the election results once announced in Myanmar, also known as Burma.

However, the opposition leader said she can still make major decisions of the party even if another person served as president. Suu Kyi’s late husband was British, as are their two sons.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) said in a statement that the country’s Information Minister and presidential spokesman Ye Htut congratulated it on behalf of President Thein Sein, the newspaper said.

The ruling Communist Party hosted Aung San Suu Kyi in June, when she met with China’s president and party leader, Xi Jinping, in a sign of Beijing’s willingness to adapt to the changing political landscape.

He said the meeting would take place “after the Union Election Commission has completed its electoral duties”. The first time, in 1990, the results were nullified and Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest.

Under the 2008 constitution, the military automatically controls 25 percent of all parliamentary seats, and maintains control of several key government posts, including defense, interior and border security.

However, Suu Kyi is barred from becoming president by a constitutional hurdle inserted by the junta during the transfer of power in 2011.

However, she has recently expressed a desire to become the country’s de facto leader. After January 31, all 664 legislators will cast ballots and the top vote-getter will become president, while the other two will be vice-presidents.