What's happened
Myanmar's military will formally transfer power to a new parliament in March after winning a 2026 election, with top generals expected to retain significant influence. The process marks a tentative step toward a return to parliamentary proceedings, though military control remains dominant amid ongoing unrest.
What's behind the headline?
Myanmar's upcoming parliamentary session signals a controlled political transition, but the military's entrenched power will likely persist. The election results, heavily skewed in favor of the USDP and military allies, serve to legitimize military rule rather than foster genuine civilian governance. The constitutional framework, which grants the military significant automatic seats and bars civilian leaders like Aung San Suu Kyi from holding key posts, ensures the military's continued dominance. This setup suggests the new parliament will function more as a legitimizing facade than a true shift toward democracy. The military's strategic retention of power indicates that Myanmar's civil conflict and unrest will continue, with the military maintaining control over key institutions and decision-making processes. The international community's response will be critical in shaping Myanmar's future, but the current trajectory favors military consolidation rather than democratization.
What the papers say
The Japan Times reports that the military will formally cede power after the new parliament meets in March, with top generals expected to remain influential. Reuters highlights that over 86% of seats are held by the military and USDP, emphasizing the military's control despite the parliamentary process. The Independent notes that the upcoming session is the first in over five years, but the military's dominance remains intact, with key figures like Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing poised to retain power. These sources collectively underscore that Myanmar's political transition is largely superficial, with the military maintaining its grip on power under the guise of parliamentary proceedings.
How we got here
Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar has been under military rule, with the military-backed USDP winning recent elections deemed unfair by critics. The upcoming parliament session on March 16 will be the first in over five years, aiming to replace the military government but likely maintaining military dominance due to constitutional provisions and seat allocations. The military's influence persists, with key figures such as Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing expected to retain power, and Aung San Suu Kyi remaining imprisoned.
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Common question
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What does Myanmar's new parliament mean for democracy?
Myanmar's recent political developments have raised many questions about the country's future. With the military still holding significant influence despite the formation of a new parliament, many wonder what this means for democracy in Myanmar. Is this a step toward civilian rule or just a facade? Below, we explore the key questions about Myanmar's political transition and what it could mean for the country's future.
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Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has a population...
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The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP; Burmese: ပြည်ထောင်စုကြံ့ခိုင်ရေးနှင့် ဖွံ့ဖြိုးရေးပါတီ, romanized: pyihtaunghcukyaanhkinerayynhang hpwanhpyaoerayypar
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Min Aung Hlaing is a Burmese army general who is the current Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces. He assumed the post on 30 March 2011. He is also a member of the National Defence and Security Council chaired by the President of Myanmar.