2008 Myanmar constitutional referendum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A constitutional referendum was held in Myanmar on 10 May 2008 (24 May 2008 in some townships) according to an announcement by the State Peace and Development Council in February 2008.[1] According to the military government, the new Constitution of Myanmar will ensure the creation of a "discipline-flourishing democracy".[2] Multi-party elections followed in 2010.
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The constitutional referendum law was enacted and a referendum commission was set up on 26 February 2008.[3] Reportedly, the law ensures the secret casting of votes and requires a public count of the ballots to prove it is fair.[4]
The draft constitution was published and the date of the referendum finally announced on 9 April 2008. Among the changes that the referendum sought to make are:
- One quarter of all parliamentary seats would be reserved for military officers.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs would fall exclusively under military control.[5]
- Anyone married to a person who was not a citizen of Myanmar would be barred from running for the office of president.[6] Many international media reports suggest that this provision would have the effect of making opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi ineligible for the presidency,[7] although her British husband died in 1999.