Constitutional amendments unlikely to happen until after 2020 – State Counsellor

24 October 2019
Constitutional amendments unlikely to happen until after 2020 – State Counsellor
Photo: Myanmar State Counsellor Office

Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi said amending the constitution is needed for Myanmar to transition to a "complete democracy," but is unlikely to happen before next year's election, according to a report in the Nikkei Asian Review.

The military still holds significant power, partly due to a clause in the constitution that guarantees 25% of seats in parliament which are allotted to the military. The clause gives the military a virtual veto on amending the constitution, raising doubts over the chance of it being carried out.

While the parliament formed a joint committee to discuss the constitutional amendments, Suu Kyi said the "military are not overly enthusiastic," and indicated that the issue will be addressed during her next term if she wins the 2020 election.