• OPINION

  Army key to Myanmar’s political future

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 27/03/2014

  » As the country celebrates Armed Forces Day, Myanmar’s president Thein Sein is in the throes of making an unusually decisive move aimed at ending the current political impasse. Everything is currently stalled, with the government and bureaucracy paralysed by the absorption with constitutional change and the growing preoccupation with the forthcoming elections next year.

• OPINION

  Stalled reforms herald a bleak future

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 10/12/2014

  » With elections planned for this time next year, Myanmar's future is at a critical crossroads. At the same time, there is increased confusion over attempts to change the constitution and introduce proportional representation rather than the first past the post system as in previous elections.The speaker of the lower house Shwe Mann has announced there will be a referendum in May next year on some proposed amendments to the constitution, but that the charter will remain relatively unchanged before next year's election.Meanwhile, the National League for Democracy (NLD) is continuing its campaign to change the constitution, although it concedes this is unlikely before the next election. 

• OPINION

  Ruling party prepares to go to polls

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 29/05/2015

  » Myanmar's ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is getting ready for the forthcoming elections amid increased internal tension and uncertainty over its political future. "There is a very real danger of the party splitting," said a USDP MP on condition of anonymity.

• OPINION

  Presidential rivals gear up for race

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 29/07/2015

  » Myanmar's elections are only three months away and the battle to become the country's next president is already in full swing, with the current incumbent seeking a second term in office. The two goliaths within the governing party — the current president Thein Sein and the speaker of the lower house, Shwe Mann, are the leading contenders.The Union Solidarity Party (USDP) has been a two-headed dragon, with both of them vying for control of the party and government policy: with the party's presidential nomination the key prize. But the battle for the presidency is far from being a two-horse race.

• OPINION

  Ceasefire marks flawed first steps to peace

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 14/10/2015

  » On Thursday, Thein Sein's government will sign a permanent ceasefire pact with eight of Myanmar's ethnic rebel groups that have been fighting for independence for more than 50 years.

• OPINION

  Suu Kyi's rivals are trying to steal election

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 02/11/2015

  » As electioneering enters its final days, most people in Myanmar are increasingly worried that these elections will not be free, fair nor credible.

• OPINION

  Democratic era dawns on the generals

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 10/11/2015

  » Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), are heading for a historic landslide victory in Sunday's elections. Although the official results are days away -- the charismatic pro-democracy leader seems certain to control the lower house, and may even have an absolute majority in the parliament as a whole.

• OPINION

  NLD believes Suu Kyi can be president

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 23/11/2015

  » Myanmar's opposition leader is planning to be the country's next president after her party overwhelmingly won this month's polls. Although the constitution bars Aung San Suu Kyi from the position -- because she was married to a foreigner and her two children are foreign nationals -- she and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), are preparing to nominate her when parliament convenes at the end of January.

• OPINION

  Myanmar starts new parliamentary era

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 01/02/2016

  » Myanmar's new members of parliament are convening in the legislature Monday. The first session since their election in November last year, this marks a significant step in Myanmar's road to full and genuine democracy.

• OPINION

  Suu Kyi and army commander strike deal

  News, Larry Jagan, Published on 27/02/2016

  » Myanmar’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will not push to be the new president, but instead will run the government from within the cabinet. The Lady — as she is widely known here — will appoint a proxy president, according to senior sources in the National League for Democracy (NLD). Instead, she will be either the foreign minister or senior minister in the cabinet, after the president is elected by the parliament toward the end of March, said a source in the NLD.

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