Myanmar parliament convenes as army prepares for new era of rule

Myanmar's parliament convened on Monday for the first time since a coup five years ago, in one of the final steps in a nominal return to democracy where its powerful military retains tight control.



The gathering of the new parliament comes after a recent phased election dominated by the army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party amid low voter turnout and no viable opposition.



USDP chairman and retired brigadier-general Khin Yi was elected lower house speaker on Monday. Reuters had earlier reported Khin Yi had been touted for the role, which is seen by some analysts as pivotal for the military in advancing its agenda.



Myanmar has been plagued by civil war and a humanitarian crisis affecting millions of its people since its generals staged a 2021 coup against the government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, just as it was preparing for a second five-year term in office following a landslide election win.



Many Western countries have dismissed the latest election as a sham designed to entrench military rule and earn the generals legitimacy after five years as pariahs tainted by sanctions and barred from top international summits.