Myanmar president says transition of power will be smooth

Suu Kyi, who was released from house arrest shortly after the 2010 elections, won a seat in Parliament, along with many other NLD candidates, in the by-elections that took place in 2012.

Analysts said the NLD leader was moving cautiously to avoid a repeat of the 1990 elections when the military refused to recognise the results of a similar NLD landslide. Any reforms that challenge the entrenched interests of military “could lead to conflict or paralysis”, according to Wood.

Once in office, however, Thein Sein implemented a series of reform measures aimed at bringing Myanmar back into the mainstream of the worldwide community. It is important to continue the democratisation process to the benefit of all people in the country.

With the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party accepting defeat, much of the current parliament will be replaced.

The fact that Ms Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from the presidency has won her sympathy from the voters.

Thein Sein said in his speech that the transfer of power will be conducted “peacefully and steadily” and asked parties other than the NLD to fulfill their checking functions both within and outside parliament.

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.

On Sunday he listed tasks for the next government to tackle in the country, which still struggles with high poverty rates and poor education, infrastructure and healthcare after years of junta neglect. Suu Kyi’s late husband and her two sons are British.

Suu Kyi is a seasoned and astute politician.

Mya Pwint Phyu and 11 of her colleagues at the Cherry stationary shop in the central city of Mandalay sat at polling stations on the day of the election, paying close attention to voting inside the city’s old palace, which is now a military compound occupied by soldiers and their families. She had been confined for the best part of two decades. In any case the MEA government will be able to take charge only in February 2016.

But Thein Sein only suspended the project for the duration of his term, and the Chinese company has been lobbying hard for it to resume.

There are a few possible interpretations of what national reconciliation may mean for the NLD, the President and the military. The NLD’s gains in the minority ethnic states contributed to its victory. The personality of candidates did not play a significant role.

Her engagement with these regions will be useful in resolving the ethnic tensions in the country. The NLD refused to support the agreement, saying it excluded many armed groups.

In the northeastern state of Shan, thousands of people have fled their homes amid renewed clashes between government forces and the Shan State Army following the November 8 elections, media reports said.

The United Wa State Army, one of the largest groups, said Saturday it also welcomed the NLD’s victory.