Suu Kyi's Party Wins Majority

Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party has secured a historic majority in Burma's parliament, making it possible to form the country's first truly civilian government in more than 50 years. With the tally still being counted, the Election Commission said that Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won 21 additional seats—pushing it over the threshold of 329 seats needed for a majority in the 664-member, two-house parliament. The party with a combined parliamentary majority is able to select the next president, who can then name a Cabinet and form a new government.

The election results show a dramatic landslide for the NLD and a resounding rejection of military rule in Burma, which has been under army control for half a century. While the army hasn't conceded defeat for the ruling, the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party has acknowledged the massive success of Suu Kyi's party and pledged it will respect the final results, which seem virtually certain to allow the opposition to take over the government. Suu Kyi remains barred from the highest office by a constitutional provision inserted by the military before it transferred power to a quasi-civilian government in 2011. She has, however, declared that she will become the country's de facto leader, acting "above the president" if her party forms the next government. (More Aung San Suu Kyi stories.)