Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party said today that it will contest 2015 parliamentary elections even if the country's constitution barring her from running for president is not amended.
It was the first time the National league for Democracy party announced it would take part in the polls, which Suu Kyi had said cannot be fair unless the constitution is changed. "I want to say that the NlD will contest the 2015 elections," National league for Democracy spokesman Nyan Win said at a news conference following a party meeting.
Myanmar is a republic where the president is chosen by Parliament rather than directly elected. The NlD expects to do well enough in the 2015 polls to offer its own presidential candidate, and Suu Kyi has expressed an interest in running. The 2008 constitution was drawn up under Myanmar's previous military regime to ensure its continuing influence in government. The NlD considers it undemocratic because of clauses giving the military a mandatory allocation of 25 per cent of parliamentary seats and disqualifying Suu Kyi from running for president.