Mawlamyine, June (17)
The junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) confirmed at a press conference held by military council on June 16 that it decided to implement Close List PR, a system of proportional representation, in the next general election.
Under the 2008 constitution, the coup military already holds 25 percent of the seats, so if a Close List PR system is implemented, it will be a military-dominated parliament, the analysts criticized.
No matter what the system, the Mon Unity Party (MUP) said it will run in the next election.
“The MUP will run in the election, whether it is the PR system or the FPTP system where the candidate who wins the most votes in each constituency is elected. According to the constitution, the military will have a 25 percent share in the PR system. Nothing special, said Nai Than Shwe, a spokesperson for the Mon Unity Party.
Political analysts said if the Close List PR system is used, the coup army and its proxy party USDP will have more seats and the formation of the Hluttaw will prolong the dictatorship.
“The military is playing a leading role in national politics. Being in parliament without being elected is not a fundamental principle of a disciplined democracy. However, during the transition period, as a politician who truly believes in democracy, we must continue to work until the military gradually stepped away from politics and 100% civilians are elected, People’s Party chair Ko Ko Gyi said.
The military council has said it will use Close List PR, a system of proportional representation for the region and state Hluttaws, including the Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw, in the 2023 general election. However, it said it would continue to use a first-past-the-post electoral system (FPTP) for ethnic seats in the regions and states, including the six autonomous regions in the Amyothar Hluttaw.
U Tun Aung Kyaw, a member of the Arakan National Party (ANP)’s policy steering committee, noted that it would be difficult to form a government elected by the people’s desire if elections were held without repealing the 2008 constitution when the people did not fully understand the PR system.
Politicians and election observers have speculated that PR system elections under the 2008 constitution will not be free and fair in the current political climate.
NUG acting president Duwa Lashi La made clear on June 14 that they have vowed to overthrow the junta, both politically and militarily, as it is crucial to defeat the junta election.
News – Than Lwin Times
Thanlwintimes