Ruling party undecided on PR system, Charter change

Ruling party undecided on PR system, Charter change

Published on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 17:50

A voter from Dagon Seikkan Township voting in 2012 By-Elecetion (Photo-EMG)

The ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has not yet decided whether to adopt a proportional representation (PR) system or to amend the Constitution ahead of the 2015 election, one of its leading members said yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference following a threeday meeting of the party's central executive committee in Nay Pyi Taw, USDP vice chairman Htay Oo said: "We haven't made any decisions about whether we will accept the PR system or not and which sections of the Constitution we will amend.

"Regarding this issue, we have given the task to the central committee. We will amend this for the benefit of the public if necessary."

A public referendum would be required if certain parts of the Constitution are chosen for amendment, he added.

Burma's Union Election Commission asked Parliament in May to make a decision about changing the country's electoral system ahead of the 2015 election. A PR system would more accurately represent the country's ethnic minorities, advocates say.

As the USDP has done the majority of work on the country's reforms, it is ready and willing to cooperate with anyone for the development of the country, he added.

During his visit to the United States this month, USDP chairman Thura Shwe Manna told the Associated Press that the party may form a coalition government with Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) after the 2015 election. However, Htay Oo told journalists that it was still too early to talk about a future government.

He reaffirmed that the party would not backtrack on the country's reform process and would also guard against the actions of those aiming to derail reform.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/06/26/ruling-party-undecided-on-pr-system-charter-change/