MYANMAR: Parliamentary Elections, 1 Apr 2012
Description of electoral system:
The President is indirectly elected by parliament.
In the House of Nationalities (Amyotha Hluttaw), 168 members are elected by absolute majority vote in single-member constituencies and 56 members are reserved by the military. In the House of Representatives (Pyithu Hluttaw), 330 members are elected by absolute majority vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms and 110 members are appointed by the military to serve 4-year terms.**
** Elections as a whole are deemed valid only if 51% of the voters on the electoral roll turn out at the polls.
Population:
Population: 54,584,650 (July 2012 )
Source: IFES Election Guide.
1/3 of NLD elected are women!
I just learned from a delegate from Myanmar at the Charting a Path to Political Equality in Asia regional conference that the NLD won 43 of 45 seats in the April 1 byelection. And 13 of the 43 NLD elected are women, including Aung San Suu Kyi. Does anyone have more up to date information on the Myanmar election results for women in politics?
What is the path to power for Aung San Suu Kyi?
Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner and long time democracy advocate in Myanmar, is indisputably considered the leader of democracy and reform by the Burmese people. She has endured years of house arrest and political oppression until recent reforms by the quasi-military government of Myanmar are now allowing her to run for elected office. Read about women's participation in her political party, the National League for Democracy here and about her historic candidacy for Parliament here.
With such high hopes on her shoulders, will Suu Kyi be able to deliver if she is elected in the April 1 by-election? Even if the NLD wins every seat it is contesting, it will have just a 10% minority in Parliament, until the next round of Parliamentary elections in 2015 make more seats open for contest. Will political reform continue to open space for democracy? Do you think Suu Kyi will become the first woman prime minister of Myanmar?
Read more about Suu Kyi's campaign and expectations of her election here and here. Please leave your thoughts and comments below as well!
IRI AND NDI TO WITNESS BURMESE ELECTIONS
NDI and the International Republican Institute (IRI) are pleased to accept an invitation from the United States Government to designate representatives to witness the April 1 by-elections in Burma (Myanmar). The invitation was issued in response to a request by the government of Myanmar. One representative from each institute plans to visit the country from March 28 to April 3 to study the conduct and significance of the polls. They will be Peter Manikas, NDI’s regional director for Asia; and Johanna Kao, an IRI program director in Asia.
Read the full story at NDI.
Post-election Event to Discuss Gender Implications
If you are in the Washington DC area of the United States you should check out this event hosted by the Global Gender Forum at George Washington University. Two days following the election this panel will discuss human security issues, taking into account the ways in which men and women may be differently affected, and will consider how the US government and US organizations might be able to play a supportive role. Get more information here.
What do you think the results of the election will be on human rights in Myanmar? How might women be affected differently from men? What might the outcome be for human security in the long-term if more women are elected to Parliament? Comment below if you have thoughts or ideas to share!
1/3 of NLD elected are women!
I just learned from a delegate from Myanmar at the Charting a Path to Political Equality in Asia regional conference that the NLD won 43 of 45 seats in the April 1 byelection. And 13 of the 43 NLD elected are women, including Aung San Suu Kyi. Does anyone have more up to date information on the Myanmar election results for women in politics?
What is the path to power for Aung San Suu Kyi?
Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner and long time democracy advocate in Myanmar, is indisputably considered the leader of democracy and reform by the Burmese people. She has endured years of house arrest and political oppression until recent reforms by the quasi-military government of Myanmar are now allowing her to run for elected office. Read about women's participation in her political party, the National League for Democracy here and about her historic candidacy for Parliament here.
With such high hopes on her shoulders, will Suu Kyi be able to deliver if she is elected in the April 1 by-election? Even if the NLD wins every seat it is contesting, it will have just a 10% minority in Parliament, until the next round of Parliamentary elections in 2015 make more seats open for contest. Will political reform continue to open space for democracy? Do you think Suu Kyi will become the first woman prime minister of Myanmar?
Read more about Suu Kyi's campaign and expectations of her election here and here. Please leave your thoughts and comments below as well!
IRI AND NDI TO WITNESS BURMESE ELECTIONS
NDI and the International Republican Institute (IRI) are pleased to accept an invitation from the United States Government to designate representatives to witness the April 1 by-elections in Burma (Myanmar). The invitation was issued in response to a request by the government of Myanmar. One representative from each institute plans to visit the country from March 28 to April 3 to study the conduct and significance of the polls. They will be Peter Manikas, NDI’s regional director for Asia; and Johanna Kao, an IRI program director in Asia.
Read the full story at NDI.
Post-election Event to Discuss Gender Implications
If you are in the Washington DC area of the United States you should check out this event hosted by the Global Gender Forum at George Washington University. Two days following the election this panel will discuss human security issues, taking into account the ways in which men and women may be differently affected, and will consider how the US government and US organizations might be able to play a supportive role. Get more information here.
What do you think the results of the election will be on human rights in Myanmar? How might women be affected differently from men? What might the outcome be for human security in the long-term if more women are elected to Parliament? Comment below if you have thoughts or ideas to share!