Myanmar military ‘to respect outcome of parliamentary elections’

“Whoever wins I will respect the result if they win fairly,” General Min Aung Hlaing said in an interview released on Monday.
 
A former British colony, Myanmar had been under army rule for decades until 2011, when it formally transitioned to a civilian government, but the army still continues to wield significant political sway in the country.
 
“I believe the elections will be free and fair. That is our true wish. We are committed to helping make that happen, anyway we can,” he added.
 
The general said that he would remain the chief of the military until his retirement next year, but did not rule out becoming president if asked to take the top post.
 
    “If needed, we have to be prepared to serve the country in any role; this is part of our national politics,” he said. “If people ask me to do this duty, I will decide then.”
 
Some 30 million voters are expected to go to the polls for a parliamentary vote scheduled for November 8.
 
The elections will decide the fate of three-quarters of the seats in the Southeast Asian country’s parliament, with 25 percent of the seats being reserved for unelected military MPs.
 
Under Myanmar’s constitution, three candidates for president will be nominated from the newly formed parliament. All lawmakers then vote for a president and the candidate with the most votes takes office. The other two nominees will also serve as vice presidents.
 
The vote will be contested by the National League for Democracy (NLD) Party of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, which is expected to make huge gains at the ballot box.
 
Being the foremost critic of the constitution, the NLD has vowed to change the charter, which the party says gives the army too much sway in governing Myanmar.