Myanmar Junta Names 166 Military Appointees to New Parliament

Myanmar’s military regime has released the names of military representatives to the upcoming Parliament in March, following the military-proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)’s victory in the junta’s recently completed elections.

The junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) released two lists on February 7 and 8 naming a total of 166 military representatives selected by junta leader Min Aung Hlaing for both houses. The military-drafted 2008 Constitution guarantees 25 percent of seats for the armed forces in the bicameral parliament.

With voting made impossible in large parts of the country due to ongoing conflict, serving military appointees will have an even greater presence than usual in the upcoming legislature. The constitution guarantees the military 166 seats—25 percent of the 664-seat Union Parliament. The remaining 498 seats are meant to be filled by elected MPs.