YANGON—The first session of Myanmar’s new Upper House has been postponed by one day due to the ongoing vaccination of lawmakers against COVID-19.
Originally, both houses of Parliament were scheduled to meet on Monday for the first time since the National League for Democracy’s landslide election victory in November.
Dr. Myat Nyana Soe, a re-elected member of Parliament from the ruling National League for Democracy, told The Irrawaddy that despite the delay in convening the Upper House, there would be no postponement of the opening of the Lower House session.
“The new Lower House session will begin on schedule,” he said on Friday, meaning that, by extension, Parliament is set to open as planned.
He explained that the delay in the Upper House was caused by administrative procedures and the coronavirus inoculations.
“There are no parliamentary laws dictating that both houses have to start simultaneously,” he added.
Myanmar began COVID-19 vaccinations on Wednesday. Lawmakers were among those on the priority list to be vaccinated due to the scheduled commencement of the new Parliament.
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