President takes credit for Suu Kyi’s poll win
Print Edition
MYANMAR'S President Thein Sein yesterday said historic polls won in a thumping landslide by the opposition party were the consequence of his government's reforms and vowed a smooth transition of power.
The former general, who shed his uniform to lead the country's quasi-civilian government five years ago, said the November 8 polls were testament to the political and economic changes that have swept the former pariah state since the end of junta rule.
"The election is the result of our reform process and as we promised, we were able to hold it very successfully," he told a meeting of political parties in Yangon, the country’s largest city.
"We will hand this process (of reform) on to a new government," he said, adding "don't worry about the transition" in comments aimed at calming nerves in the country's first attempt at a democratic-style transition for decades.
Addressing representatives of nearly 90 political parties, many of which were trounced by the National League for Democracy (NLD), the main opposition party led by Aung San Suu Kyi, the Myanmar leader said elections are the "duty" of a democratic nation.
He appeared sanguine about the resounding defeat of his army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which will slip into opposition in February.
"The winning party is responsible for carrying out its duty and other opposition parties should provide checks and balances. That is called democracy," he said.
According to the latest official results released yesterday evening the NLD has won nearly 80 percent of elected seats in the combined parliament so far, with only a few seats left to call.
The USDP has just 8 percent while ethnic parties have around 11 percent.
Election commission head Tin Aye told reporters in Naypyidaw, the capital, that officials had tried to run a "free and fair" vote.
He added that out of 91 parties registered for the polls, only 11 would enter the legislature after the NLD rout.
Thein Sein, 70, has steered the country's dramatic opening up after years of isolation, freeing political prisoners, and welcoming foreign investment.
Yesterday, he listed tasks for the next government to tackle, including high poverty rates and poor education, infrastructure and health care after years of neglect.
These include national reconciliation, continuing efforts to end ethnic rebellions and pushing forward with development.
Both the president and army chief have agreed to talks with Suu Kyi in the coming days as the country's political big-hitters look to negotiate the transition.
Suu Kyi has already travelled to Naypyidaw, where she is scheduled to attend a last session of the old parliament today.
Yesterday, she held talks with the parliament speaker Shwe Mann, who was ousted as head of his party by military-backed rivals.
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