New Year politics will be fractious in Myanmar

Subject

Political outlook for Myanmar.

Significance

On April 18 as the Buddhist New Year began, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the nation, outlining the National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government's plans. She pledged a constitutional amendment to create a democratic federal union, a central demand of Myanmar's ethnic minority armed groups but one that will further strain NLD-military ties.

Impacts

• Suu Kyi 's State Counsellor role is unlikely to be successfully challenged under the constitution.
• NLD plans to amend the government's ministerial structure will take time and capacity-building; policy delays are likely.
• Ethnicity-based parties will push back against the NLD over its chief minister appointments.