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Myanmar parliament votes to keep military veto | Myanmar parliament votes to keep military veto |
(35 minutes later) | |
A vote in Myanmar's parliament has failed to remove the army's veto over constitutional change, dealing a blow to hopes for fuller democracy. | |
The bill received a majority of MPs' votes but not the 75% needed to pass. | The bill received a majority of MPs' votes but not the 75% needed to pass. |
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy is expected to see big gains against the ruling party in an election likely to take place in the autumn. | |
The NLD swept the last free general election in 1990 but the then-ruling military junta ignored the results. | The NLD swept the last free general election in 1990 but the then-ruling military junta ignored the results. |
Ms Suu Kyi is barred from running for president because her two sons hold British not Burmese passports - a ruling she says is unfair. | |
Earlier in June, a parliamentary committee proposed changes to the constitution article that bars Ms Suu Kyi - but they did not change the part that affects her status. | |
Both chambers of parliament took part in Thursday's vote, meaning 498 votes were needed to reach 75% of the 664 lawmakers in total. | |
The amendment bill was "not enacted", parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann told the legislature after the 388 votes in favour of change fell below the threshold needed for it to pass. | The amendment bill was "not enacted", parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann told the legislature after the 388 votes in favour of change fell below the threshold needed for it to pass. |
Local media said more than 600 MPs were present for the vote. | Local media said more than 600 MPs were present for the vote. |
One of the proposed changes was for the bar for parliamentary approval for constitutional change to be lowered to 70%. | |
Myanmar's parliament continues to be dominated by the army and former generals despite reforms in 2011 that ended outright military rule. | |
The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Yangon says that although it was a secret ballot there is no doubt that the army has flexed its political muscle. | |
The message is clear, our correspondent adds, that despite four years of reforms the military is not ready to give up its grip on power. | |
Earlier this week, Ms Suu Kyi said "genuine change" in Myanmar was dependent on constitutional change. | Earlier this week, Ms Suu Kyi said "genuine change" in Myanmar was dependent on constitutional change. |
Elections are expected in October or November. | Elections are expected in October or November. |