Myanmar Army, President endorse Suu Kyi victory, vow stable transition

Reuters: Myanmar President Thein Sein and the powerful army congratulated democratic champion Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday, after her party trounced the ruling camp in the first free election in 25 years and was closing in on an absolute majority in parliament.

Thein Sein reiterated that the government would accept the results of the election and agreed to Suu Kyi’s request to hold reconciliation talks soon, although the two are still to agree on the time and location of the negotiations.

Suu Kyi’s opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) has won over 80% of the seats declared so far in the lower house and is well ahead in the upper house and regional assemblies.

If the final results confirm the trend, Suu Kyi’s triumph will sweep out an old guard of former generals that has run Myanmar since the junta handed over power to Thein Sein’s semi-civilian government in 2011.

Such unambiguous endorsement of Suu Kyi’s victory could smooth the post-election transition, ahead of the first session of parliament which reconvenes on Monday.

“Congratulations ... to the chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi and her party for gathering the support of the people,” read a statement posted on the Facebook page of the presidential spokesman.