JAKARTA - The Myanmar Parliament, dominated by military allies, held a hearing on Monday for the first time since the 2021 coup that ousted the civilian government.
The regular session of the Pyithu Hluttaw, or lower house, comes after the general election, which was criticized as a "flawed election" in late December and January, in which the military-backed Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) won a landslide victory.
A total of 263 elected parliamentarians, of which almost 88 percent came from the USDP, and 110 military-appointed members gathered in the lower house building in the capital Naypyitaw for the inauguration session.
As reported by ANTARA from Kyodo, critics say the election is a hoax designed to further strengthen the military's power.
The National League for Democracy (NLDM), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, was dissolved by the junta three years ago.
The election was also held amid widespread armed conflict across the country.
Khin Yi, the USDP chairman and a former general, was elected speaker of the lower house on Monday; while Maung Maung Ohn, also a former general and current junta information minister, became deputy speaker.
In a speech on the first day of the trial, Khin Yi urged members to build Myanmar.
Myanmar has been largely ruled by the military since 1962. Aung Sang Suu Kyi's civilian government, which was overthrown and she is still in prison, ruled from 2016 until it was overthrown in February 2021.
The Amyotha Hluttaw, or upper house, with a majority of its members consisting of pro-junta members, is scheduled to convene on Wednesday (18/3).
The joint session of the two chambers will be held to begin the process of electing a new president of Myanmar. The junta said the new government would be launched in early April.
The junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, is predicted to be the new president of Myanmar.
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