Myanmar's military government creates new body to maintain control

Myanmar’s military-backed party emerged the winner of an election, final official figures showed Wednesday, as the country’s army chief signed a law authorizing a new consultative body that could allow him to retain influence without formally leading the new government. [ . . . ] Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, head of the military government, was widely expected to assume the presidency when the new Parliament convenes. The constitution, however, bars a president from serving concurrently as the army’s commander-in-chief — the country’s most powerful post — raising questions about whether he would relinquish that role. The possibility that Min Aung Hlaing might not want to formally lead the new government was highlighted Wednesday after he signed a law authorizing the creation of a new Union Consultative Council, a body that could allow its chairman to wield influence without taking center stage. The law published in the state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper allows the new president to form the council with at least five members, including a chairman. It says the council could advise and coordinate on national security, international relations, peace processes and legislation, without affecting executive or judicial powers.
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