The session follows a phased election in which the military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) secured a sweeping victory amid low voter turnout and the absence of a viable opposition. Retired brigadier-general and USDP chairman Khin Yi was elected speaker of the lower house on Monday, a position analysts say could play a central role in advancing the military’s political agenda.

Myanmar has been mired in civil war and a worsening humanitarian crisis since the armed forces overthrew the government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, just as her administration was preparing to begin a second five-year term following a landslide electoral victory.

The Union Solidarity and Development Party, formed by the military in 2010, won 81% of contested seats in the election, according to official results. The bicameral parliament will also include dozens of military officers appointed directly by the armed forces, which are constitutionally guaranteed a quarter of the seats in the legislature.

Analysts say the arrangement effectively places the parliament under military control, giving the top brass decisive influence over the selection of the country’s next president. Junta chief and coup leader Min Aung Hlaing is widely expected to assume the presidency once the new government is formed.

“This level of control makes it clear that one can expect nothing substantial from this body; it is evidently a parliament that will operate solely at the whim of the military leader,” independent analyst Htin Kyaw Aye said.

The military leadership also plans to establish a new five-member panel, the Union Consultative Council, which some experts have described as a “superbody” designed to consolidate authority over both civilian administration and the armed forces.

The junta has rejected international criticism of the election, saying the process reflected the will of the people. Officials have indicated that a new government could be formed as early as April and have expressed hope that the political transition may help ease sanctions and revive foreign investment.

A commentary published Monday in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar said the convening of parliament had raised expectations across the country for improved political stability and governance focused on national interests.

Polling stations opened across the Himalayan nation as citizens headed to the polls in what is widely seen as a critical political moment following months of unrest and demands for systemic change from younger voters.The election comes after a period of intense political instability triggered by large demonstrations led primarily by young protesters who took to the streets in unprecedented numbers. The protests escalated into violent confrontations that resulted in dozens of deaths and mounting pressure on the government.Those demonstrations eventually forced the country’s then prime minister to step down, setting the stage for a fresh parliamentary vote aimed at restoring political stability.Legacy of youth-led protestsThe protests that erupted months earlier marked one of the most significant youth-driven political movements in Nepal’s recent history. Demonstrators had voiced anger over governance failures and demanded greater accountability from political leaders.The unrest spread across several cities and towns, drawing widespread participation from students and young professionals who said they were frustrated with the country’s political direction.

Authorities confirmed that at least 77 people died during the demonstrations and subsequent clashes, making it one of the deadliest periods of civil unrest in recent years.The political upheaval that followed forced the government to dissolve parliament and call for a general election to establish a new mandate.Voters seek political resetThursday’s vote is expected to determine the composition of a new parliament that will form the next government and chart the country’s political course after months of uncertainty.Many voters say the election represents an opportunity for change after the turmoil that shook the nation.Turnout is being closely watched as a sign of public confidence in the democratic process following the protests and the leadership crisis that followed.

Election officials have deployed security personnel at polling stations across the country to ensure voting proceeds smoothly.The results of the vote are expected to shape Nepal’s political landscape and determine how the new leadership responds to demands for reform that emerged during last year’s protests