Suu Kyi Wins Parliament Seat

Unofficial count gives democracy icon 65% of vote in her constituency
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 1, 2012 5:45 AM CDT
Suu Kyi Wins Parliament Seat
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is surrounded by supporters and journalists as she visits a polling station in the constituency where she stands as a candidate in Kawhmu on April 1, 2012.   (Getty Images)

Aung San Suu Kyi's party says she has won a seat in Burma's parliament in today's landmark election, setting the stage for the pro-democracy icon to hold public office for the first time. The victory, if confirmed, marks a major milestone in the Southeast Asian nation, where the military has ruled almost exclusively for a half-century and where the government is now seeking legitimacy and a lifting of Western sanctions.

The victory claim was displayed on a digital signboard above the opposition National League for Democracy's headquarters in Burma's main city, Yangon. Earlier, the party said in unofficial figures that Suu Kyi was ahead with 65% of the vote in 82 of her constituency's 129 polling stations. Suu Kyi had earlier pulled off the campaign trail claiming fatigue, then accused the government of interfering with the election. (More Aung San Suu Kyi stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X