Ethnic Political Parties Merge to Seek Stronger Representation in 2020 Election
Ethnic Political Parties Merge to Seek Stronger Representation in 2020 Election
The Irrawaddy, 11 Sep 2018
URL: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/politics/ethnic-political-parties-merge-to-seek-stronger-representation-in-2020-election.html
YANGON— Homegrown political parties in Myanmar’s ethnic areas have been merging together in the hope of winning a majority of seats in both national and regional parliaments in the upcoming 2020 general elections,
a victory that would grant them more authority to improve their rights.
So far, apart from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party, political parties in four out of eight of Myanmar’s major ethnic groups have merged.
The results of the 2015 general election were a major lesson for the ethnic parties; disunity among them and the stunning NLD victory resulted in their holding a mere 11 percent of seats in the national legislature.
In 2015, 91 political parties contested for seats out of which 64 percent, or 59 parties, represented ethnic minority parties. Most major ethnic groups—the Shan, Kachin, Kayah, Chin, Mon and Karen—were represented by at least two parties each.
Because of splitting votes, there was a decline of 4 percent in seats held by members of ethnic parties compared to the 2010 election, which was held under the military regime.
Instead of competing against each other, many of the smaller ethnic parties have decided to amalgamate in a bid to win more seats in the 2020 general election. In fact, they ultimately aim to triumph over the NLD as they believe the party doesn’t bring satisfactory development or improvements in their respective ethnic states.
The merging process started after the NLD came to power, but initially proved difficult due to the many different political views and ambitions at the core of the different parties. When ethnic people became dissatisfied with the NLD’s efforts in the peace process and forming a federal system however, they put more pressure on their homegrown political parties to combine.
a victory that would grant them more authority to improve their rights.
So far, apart from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party, political parties in four out of eight of Myanmar’s major ethnic groups have merged.
The results of the 2015 general election were a major lesson for the ethnic parties; disunity among them and the stunning NLD victory resulted in their holding a mere 11 percent of seats in the national legislature.
In 2015, 91 political parties contested for seats out of which 64 percent, or 59 parties, represented ethnic minority parties. Most major ethnic groups—the Shan, Kachin, Kayah, Chin, Mon and Karen—were represented by at least two parties each.
Because of splitting votes, there was a decline of 4 percent in seats held by members of ethnic parties compared to the 2010 election, which was held under the military regime.
Instead of competing against each other, many of the smaller ethnic parties have decided to amalgamate in a bid to win more seats in the 2020 general election. In fact, they ultimately aim to triumph over the NLD as they believe the party doesn’t bring satisfactory development or improvements in their respective ethnic states.
The merging process started after the NLD came to power, but initially proved difficult due to the many different political views and ambitions at the core of the different parties. When ethnic people became dissatisfied with the NLD’s efforts in the peace process and forming a federal system however, they put more pressure on their homegrown political parties to combine.