Pro-military Myanmar ruling party re-elects reformist president as its chairman

By Associated Press, Published: October 16    

YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s ruling party has re-elected President Thein Sein as its chairman at its first convention since he took office last year.
Photo/Associated Press - Myanmar President U Thein Sein, right, greets Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), party members during the first conference of their USDP party at the party’s headquarters Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012 in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.

The Union Solidarity and Development Party unanimously endorsed Thein Sein on Tuesday in the capital, Naypyitaw. The former general has instituted political and economic reforms, largely succeeding in breaking his country out of its isolation from the international community. This sets the stage for an economic take-off after decades of stultifying army rule.

The party served as the military’s proxy in the 2010 general election, when it won 883 of 1,154 parliamentary seats in polls boycotted by the pro-democracy party of Aung San Suu Kyi.
However, her National League for Democracy party virtually swept by-elections earlier this year, setting up a more serious challenge for the 2015 general election.
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