President congratulates NLD, promises peaceful power transfer
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By Lun Min Mang | Wednesday, 11 November 2015
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President U Thein Sein has congratulated the National League for Democracy on its landslide victory in the November 8 vote and promised a peaceful transfer of power, the party said.
The NLD said in a statement this afternoon that Minister for Information U Ye Htut, a presidential spokesperson, congratulated the party for its win on behalf of U Thein Sein.
The NLD said the president thanked the party for its cooperation in the November 8 general election and pledged his support for a peaceful transfer of power once its win is confirmed by the Union Election Commission.
“In accordance with the Union Election Commission’s election results announcement, I would like to congratulate you, the NLD, for leading the race for parliamentary seats,” the NLD quoted U Ye Htut as saying.
“In honour of the citizens’ desire, the government will pursue a peaceful transfer in accordance with the legislated timeline.”
Under Myanmar’s constitution, MPs elected on November 8 will not be sworn in until late January, when the five-year term of the current parliament ends. The new MPs will choose the president in February, and the president will form a government to take office on March 30, 2016.
Meanwhile, U Ye Htut said the government also agreed to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s proposal for a meeting to discuss national reconciliation.
He said the meeting would take place “after the Union Election Commission has completed its electoral duties”.
“We all will cooperate for the stability of post-election interim period,” U Ye Htut said, according to the NLD.
While the results are still being announced, the NLD has a huge lead over the Union Solidarity and Development Party, with 163 Pyidaungsu Hluttaw seats to 10.
U Thein Sein is the chair of the USDP, but was constitutionally barred from taking part in its election campaign. In the days before the vote, the NLD filed a complaint to the UEC alleging that he had violated electoral rules by campaigning for the party. The complaint was thrown out.