Burma’s opposition party leader and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi has won the seat she was contesting in the Southeast Asian nation’s freest elections in over two decades, officials said Wednesday.
Suu Kyi, who heads the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, will retain her seat in parliament representing the Kawhmu constituency outside Burma’s largest city Rangoon, the BBC reported.
The NLD looks set for a landslide victory as results from Sunday’s vote continue to trickle in, and Suu Kyi has said she will lead the country, which is formally known as Myanmar, despite being barred from becoming its President.
See Aung San Suu Kyi’s Party Celebrate Winning Burma’s Election
Supporters clap and take pictures from their mobile phone cameras as Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and patron Tin Oo deliver address the supporters in Rangoon, Burma, on Nov. 9, 2015. Gemunu Amarasinghe—APSupporters of National League for Democracy (NLD) party celebrate in front of NLD headquarters a day after the general elections in Rangoon, Burma, on Nov. 9, 2015. Nyein Chan Naing—EPAAung San Suu Kyi delivers a speech with party patron Tin Oo from a balcony of her party's headquarters in Rangoon, Burma, on Nov. 9, 2015. Mark Baker—APAung San Suu Kyi with flowers in her hair, leaves after delivering a speech in Rangoon, Burma, on Nov. 9, 2015.Gemunu Amarasinghe—APCrowds cheer as they gather for the election result announcement in front of the National League for Democracy's headquarters after Burma's first free and fair election in Rangoon, Burma, on Nov.9, 2015.Lauren DeCicca—Getty ImagesA huge crowd gathers outside the headquarters of National League of Democracy (NLD) party displaying a huge portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon, Burma, on Nov. 9, 2015.Romeo Gacad—AFP/Getty ImagesPeople riding a bus look at supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi as they celebrate outside the National League of Democracy (NLD) headquarters in Rangoon, Burma, on Nov. 9, 2015. Nicolas Asfouri—AFP/Getty ImagesSupporters of Aung San Suu Kyi carry a National League for Democracy (NLD) flag through the streets of Mandalay, Burma, on Nov. 9, 2015. Olivia Harris—Reuters
