President, ruling party are against change of voting system, says MP
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President Thein Sein believes the 2015 general election would be too early to introduce the proportional representation (PR) voting system, MP Thura Aung Ko of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party told reporters as parliament reconvened this
“Most ethnic parties and USDP members of parliament are unlikely to accept the PR system, but it will be debated in the current parliamentary session. I do not think it will be successful,” said Thura Aung Ko.
MPs are due to debate PR – where the number of seats won by a party is proportional to the number of votes received – during this session, before voting on whether to adopt it in place of the current “first-past-the-post” system.
As the USDP enjoys a majority in parliament, says Thura Aung Ko, PR is unlikely to be voted into law.
Responding to a question from reporters, Thura Aung Ko said that the military-appointed representatives, who make up 25 per cent of MPs, would follow the president’s directive in the vote on PR.
The ruling USDP discussed whether to back adoption of PR for the 2015 election at the inaugural meeting of its central executive committee. But no decision had been made, USDP vice-chairman Htay Oo said on Monday.
