Myanmar’s military will retain its grip on the constitution after Parliament rejected a bill that would have curbed its power.
MPs voted against changing Article 436 (a), which requires a 75 percent plus 1 majority for votes on changing the constitution, according to AFP.
Because the military has 25 percent of the total seats in parliament, that means they have an automatic veto on any amendments.
In its current form, the constitution bars opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency, as her children are foreign citizens and her late husband was British.
The proposal would have cut the share of votes needed to amend it to 70.
A total of 475 ‘yes’ votes’ was needed to pass the bill but only 388 voted in favor.
In a press conference after the vote, Suu Kyi told the public not to be upset by the result.
“The result of the vote to amend the constitution is neither strange nor upsetting. People don’t need to be depressed. Now it is clear how we will move forward,” she was quoted in 7Days Daily as saying.
This is a breaking story and will be updated as details emerge.
Photo: Nai Hongsar / Coconuts Media
