First Democratic Elections in Burma in 25 Years

Burma sees its first Democratic Elections after 25 years, last held in 1990 for a new government.

First Democratic Elections in Burma in 25 years

The most talked about Elections in the recent past, in the world, the one that could be marked as one of the biggest political events in Burman history has been held on Sunday in the country. Millions of voters turned up for the elections as anticipated to cast their votes to choose their leader who is most probably, according to numerous surveys and by simple analysis, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been the opposition leader of the country for the past 25 years.

Burma, the now- Myanmar has been suffering under military dictatorship for fifty years now, hence has seen huge voter turnout despite sunny climate and packed booths. Voting started at 6a.m. and ended at 4pm in the evening. Certain booths had to extend the voting process after the allotted time as demanded by the voters all of them with their faces lit up with certain hope and enthusiasm for a new rule.

Despite strong opposition forces against their way, the military government led by the Thein Sein, has displayed huge confidence in their win. The president under the Union Solidarity and Development Party has cast his vote in the capital of the country, Naypyidaw while Suu Kyi has cast her vote in her home constituency of Bahan.

Even after managing to win in the elections, Suu Kyi’s party however has to face a turbulence as 25 percent of the seats in the parliament would still be under the control of the military. Suu Kyi, is not let to become the President owing to a constitutional provision. When asked about the hurdle in her way, she went on to casually say, “Oh, I have already made plans.” However the previous democratic elections in 1990 led to a phenomenal win of Suu Kyi but the results were subsequently ignored by the then military government.