Premier Reform-Era Parliament Draws to a Close

By The Irrawaddy 29 January 2016

RANGOON — Friday marked the term’s end for Burma’s first Parliament since the start of a democratic transition in 2011.

The assembly first convened on Jan. 31, 2011, and over the course of five years it has held a total of 13 sessions and passed 229 laws, including a controversial package known as the Race and Religion Protection Laws.

House assemblies ended on Thursday, and a closing joint session of the Union Parliament convenes for the last time on Friday.

In his final speech as Speaker of the Lower House, Shwe Mann said the Parliament had worked diligently throughout its five-year tenure for the interests of the state and the people.

“We have discussed and passed proposals and laws that could help to promote the rule of law, internal peace and national unity without being impeded by party affiliation, political beliefs, race or religion,” he said.

Parliament’s new session starts on Feb. 1, when the National League for Democracy will take a majority of seats in both houses after its sweeping victory in the Nov. 8 general election.