Summary
Myanmar's parliament has convened for the first time since the 2021 military coup, with the pro-military party, USDP, winning most seats in recent elections. The elections had low voter turnout and major opposition parties were barred from participating. The new parliament session included the election of a USDP chairman as the speaker of the lower house.
Key Facts
- Myanmar's parliament met for the first time since the 2021 coup.
- The pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won most seats in recent elections.
- Major opposition parties could not run in these elections.
- A quarter of the parliament seats are reserved for the military.
- Khin Yi, a former general, was elected speaker of the lower house.
- A new Union Consultative Council was established to help maintain military control.
- The last widely accepted election was in 2020, won by Aung San Suu Kyi's party.
- The military declared a state of emergency in 2021 and took control of the government.
