Myanmar’s parliament convened For the first time in five years, the country’s legislative process formally resumed on Monday, attracting widespread attention contested national Choose held by the military junta government.
The reopening of the legislative session has raised important legal questions about the constitutional framework of governance legality the elections held under military rule and the resulting composition of the parliamentary body.
The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw – a bicameral parliament established under the country’s 2008 constitution – has claimed it is the country’s only legitimate parliament. An opposition shadow parliament formed from elected MPs who were expelled from their seats after the military seized power in 2021 coupalso held an online meeting on Monday.
Myanmar’s 2008 constitution grants the military a significant institutional role in the country’s political system. According to this, 25 percent of parliamentary seats are reserved for military officers who are appointed directly by the commander in chief. The agreement ensures that the armed forces have a guaranteed presence in the legislature and the ability to influence constitutional amendments that require the approval of over 75 percent of the legislature.
The recent national elections were widespread criticized and conducted under electoral rules introduced by the junta government. Several opposition parties, including those linked to the former ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), were dissolved, banned from participating or decided to boycott the vote. As a result, parties allied with the military secured a large share of the contested seats in the election, which, combined with the constitutionally reserved military seats, resulted in a legislature largely dominated by actors allied with the junta.
The junta seized power in February 2021. displacement the elected civilian government led by the NLD. The military arrested several high-ranking officials, including State Councilor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint and declared a nationwide state of emergency. Military leaders used this to justify the coup claim widespread fraud in the November 2020 general election, which the NLD won by a wide margin. However, the country’s electoral commission has rejected these claims and critics argue that the military’s actions violate the rule of law.
The coup ended a decades-long period of partial civilian rule and effectively brought Myanmar back under direct military control, sparking widespread protests, violent repression and ongoing political conflict. As the country experiences a formal return to the legislative process after years of disruption, the coup, questionable elections and the military junta’s continued political dominance raise unresolved questions about the legitimacy and effectiveness of the new legislature.
