Yangon: Myanmar's top leaders will hold talks this week with opposition chief Aung San Suu Kyi, the first since her party's landmark election success. There is uncertainty over the handover of power after Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy swept nearly 80 per cent of seats in the November 8 polls.
Under the country's complex political system, the army-backed parliament will stay in power until at least January, while a new president is unlikely to be sworn in until March. Suu Kyi has requested “national reconciliation” discussions with the president and army chief to assure smooth transition. The call, however, has gone unanswered until now, sparking speculations. Both President Thein Sein and powerful army chief General Min Aung Hlaing have now agreed to meet her. Both Thein Sein and General Hlaing have congratulated Suu Kyi on her party's poll victory and promised to respect the election result. But concerns remain over Myanmar's transition in a country where the military still holds enormous political and economic sway, and has a long history of quashing democratic aspirations.
“The president will meet with Daw Suu on December 2nd,” presidential spokesperson Zaw Htay said without elaborating. Win Htein, a senior member of the NLD, confirmed the talks with the president. The military released a separate statement confirming that the army chief would meet Suu Kyi at the defence ministry in the capital Naypyidaw on the 2nd of December.
But Suu Kyi is still banned under the army-drafted constitution from becoming president because she married and had children with a foreigner. The military also retains 25 per cent of seats in the two legislative chambers, giving it a de facto veto over any constitutional change. Suu Kyi has so far opted to take a modest approach to victory, dampening celebrations despite her party's overwhelming majority in the combined national parliament.
