Myanmar looks set for a historic moment as the Southeast Asian nation concludes its first democratic elections in almost two and a half decades — considered by many as a vital component in the country’s bid to achieve genuine democracy and sustainable development.
While official results are yet to be announced by the country’s Union Election Commission later today, early reports suggest a landslide victory for the opposition’s National League for Democracy led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Some members of the incumbent group’s Union Solidarity and Development Party have also reportedly conceded defeats in their own districts.
Erin Murphy, founder of Inle Advisory Group, told Devex that while the election is an important milestone in Myanmar’s development and political trajectory, it represents only an “initial step in a long process” of true change that could take months — or even years — to bear fruit.
About the author
Lean Alfred Santos@DevexLeanAS
Lean Alfred Santos is a former Devex development reporter focusing on the development community in Asia-Pacific, including major players such as the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He previously covered Philippine and international business and economic news, sports and politics.
