Suu Kyi has slim chances, despite law
YANGON: A new law that enables Myanmar to hold a referendum on amending the constitution is unlikely to bring changes that would allow opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to become president after this year’s general election, a ruling party MP said yesterday.
President Thein Sein has signed off on a constitutional referendum law, lawmakers said on Wednesday. The move comes after domestic and international pressure to reform Myanmar’s political system, which is stacked in favour of the military.
Mrs Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party have been pushing for changes to the constitution, which the military drafted. One clause bars anyone whose children or spouse are foreigners from becoming president, which is seen aimed at Nobel laureate Suu Kyi, whose two sons are British citizens.
Shwe Maung, an MP from the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), said the clause is unlikely to be included if a referendum is held this year.
Bringing that section to referendum would require support from 76% of parliamentarians, but such a move would be opposed by unelected military MPs who hold 25% of the seats and many in the USDP, which holds most seats and is made up largely of former military officers, he said.
“I don’t expect a rapid change,” he said. “If it’s not possible this time, maybe in a future referendum.”
Myanmar’s president is chosen by parliamentarians after the general election. It’s unclear whether the referendum would be held at all this year. Shwe Maung and other MPs have said a referendum could take place as early as May.
Others say that is unlikely given the logistical challenges faced by the Election Commission.