CNI News
12 February 2025
There are controversies among military and political observers regarding whether the State Administration Council can maintain power under the 2008 constitution if the council cannot hold the election even though it has said that it will hold the election.
If the SAC chairman is going on like this without being able to hold election quickly, it is not the same as maintaining power anymore; as the chairman has promised that he will hold the election in 2025, elections are an inevitable landscape, Chairman of the PNLO-NCA/S Col. Khun Okkar told CNI News.
" According to the current situation, whether the SAC chairman maintains power or stages a coup d'état, or it is consistent with the 2008 constitution, the election is an inevitable landscape. If the election can't be held quickly and the current situation continues, it's not the same as maintaining power anymore because maintaining power takes a few years. A general election must be held again. The election might not be an answer. But it could be the beginning of a path to finding answers." said Col. Khun Okkar.
While seeing the Union Election Commission and political parties
There are challenges and stability is still needed to hold the election.
So, the SAC has been extended for another six months in accordance with the 2008 constitution starting from 1st February 2025.
Although the SAC chairman has said that the election will be held, he did not say exactly in which month the election would be held.
So, regarding whether the SAC is in a position to definitely hold the election there are questions and estimations among military and political analysts.
On the other hand, armed elements are making attempts to overthrow the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the SAC.
Moreover armed groups have announced that they would surely destroy the election that the SAC will hold.
Although holding elections is an outlet for Myanmar politics, the SAC is in a position to extend its tenure without holding elections and could continue to govern as it is now, general secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) U Sai Leik told CNI News.
While seeing officials from some political parties
" The SAC may extend the state of emergency as it likes. Or it may hand over power to the National Defense and Security Council and take about six months to hold the election. But saying it's impossible to hold the election, the SAC can take power again. But whether doing so is convenient or inconvenient is just the next part." said U Sai Leik.
Saying that the NLD was trying to form a government without solving the vote list dispute in the 2020 general election, the Myanmar Tatmadaw announced the state of emergency on 1st February 2021 and took power.
The SAC extended the state of emergency every six months starting from 1st February 2021 and it had served for four years on 1st February 2025.
According to Section.425 of the 2008 Constitution, calling it an unusual situation, the SAC has the right to extend the state of emergency as necessary.
Moreover, as long as a new President is not elected after the state power is handed over to the NDSC, the SAC has the right to rule the country under Section. 427.
