By Dr Than Zaw Oo
IN A democratic system,
elections are an indis-
pensable process. Democracy
embodies two essential dimen-
sions: participation and competi-
tion. These two dimensions must
be fully realized through free and
fair elections, which constitute
the very essence of democratic
practice. Representatives, elected
by the people in accordance with
their free will, enter legislative
bodies through the electoral pro-
cess to represent the voice of the
people. In doing so, parliaments
serve as the fundamental pillars
of law-making and as platforms
through which the people’s will is
expressed.
The right to vote is a funda-
mental right of every citizen. This
principle is enshrined in Section
38 (a) of the 2008 Constitution,
every citizen shall have the right
to elect and to be elected under the
law. Furthermore, international
frameworks such as the Univer-
sal Declaration of Human Rights
(Article 21) and the International
Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (Article 25) guarantee the
right to participate in elections.
The Convention on the Elimina-
tion of All Forms of Discrimina-
tion Against Women affirms equal
electoral rights for women, while
the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities ensures
that persons with disabilities can
exercise their voting rights without
barriers.
Despite the state’s efforts to
ensure inclusive participation,
certain anti-democratic elements
attempted to derail the process
through “No Vote” campaigns and
acts of terrorism. These included
the destruction of polling stations
and targeted attacks on civil serv-
ants and volunteers to incite fear.
Nevertheless, democracy does not
belong to any single individual or
party. Despite such challenges,
a total of 57 political parties par-
ticipated, and the elections were
successfully conducted in a free
and fair manner.
During the first phase of the
elections, international observers
from countries including Russia,
Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Cam-
bodia, Vietnam, and Nicaragua, as
well as a Japan-Myanmar associ-
ation, monitored the process. In
the third phase, observers from
Cambodia, Vietnam, Nicaragua,
Indonesia, Nepal, Belarus, and
India, along with the Internation-
al Conference of Asian Political
Parties (ICAPP), also participated.
These observation groups gen-
erally provided positive assess-
ments, recognizing the elections
as credible and well-conducted.
Following the successful com-
pletion of free and fair elections,
legislative bodies at various levels
were formed. Speakers and Depu-
ty Speakers of Pyithu Hluttaw and
Amyotha Hluttaw were elected,
and standing committees were
established to carry out parlia-
mentary functions. Following the
emergence of the new Hluttaws,
the presidential election process
commenced on 31 March. The
electoral college, divided into three
groups, nominated their respec-
tive Vice-Presidents:
v Pyithu Hluttaw Represent-
ative Group: Senior General
Min Aung Hlaing was elected
as Vice-President after receiv-
ing 247 out of 260 votes.
v Amyotha Hluttaw Represent-
ative Group: Nan Ni Ni Aye
was elected as Vice- President,
securing 117 out of 155 votes.
v Defence Services Personnel
Representatives Group: U
Nyo Saw was unanimously
confirmed as Vice-President.
Subsequently, during the Py-
idaungsu Hluttaw session held on
3 April, with 584 out of 586 rep-
resentatives in attendance, the
presidential election was conduct-
ed. Among the candidates, Senior
General Min Aung Hlaing received
the highest number of votes (429
votes) and was duly elected as the
President. U Nyo Saw and Nan Ni
Ni Aye were elected as Vice-Pres-
idents.
Following the conduct of free
and fair elections, representative
elected from various political par-
ties, ethnic representatives, and
independent members within the
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw collectively
exercised their equal rights and
responsibilities in accordance with
democratic principles. Through
a unanimous vote, they elected
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
as the President of the Republic
of the Union of Myanmar. This
process may be regarded as a
significant democratic procedure
reflecting representation, inclu-
siveness, and unity.
The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw
Speaker declared Senior General
Min Aung Hlaing from the group
of Pyithu Hluttaw representatives
who won the largest number of
valid votes was elected as the
President. He also announced that
U Nyo Saw and Nan Ni Ni Aye
were elected as Vice-Presidents.
This marks a significant
milestone in Myanmar’s political
history, particularly with the emer-
gence of the country’s first female
Vice-President. The inclusion of
women in national leadership re-
flects a progressive step towards
gender equality and inclusive gov-
ernance.
With the establishment of 31
Union-level ministries, including
those dedicated to women’s af-
fairs and youth affairs, the new
government is poised to enhance
the role of women and young peo-
ple in national progress. These
developments represent positive
momentum, and the formation of
the new government in the new
year is warmly welcomed as a step
towards a peaceful, modern, and
developed nation.