Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party wins majority in historic Myanmar vote

Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party secured a historic majority in Myanmar's parliament on Friday, making it possible for them to form the Southeast Asian country's first truly civilian government in more than half a century.

With the tally still being counted, the Election Commission said that Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won 21 additional seats — pushing it over the threshold of 329 seats needed for a majority in the 664-member, two-house Parliament.

The party with a combined parliamentary majority is able to select the next president, who can then name a Cabinet and form a new government.

Suu Kyi's victory had been widely expected, but few anticipated a landslide of such dramatic proportions. The results have shown a resounding rejection of military rule in Myanmar, which has been under army control for half a century.

Elections were not held in seven constituencies, meaning a simple majority could be reached at 329 seats. The NLD has officially won 238 seats in the lower house — which means it now will have the power to pass bills — and 110 in the upper house, for a total of 348.

In comparison, the ruling pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party has won 40 seats, according to the latest results Friday afternoon.

The military automatically receives 25 percent of the seats in each house under the constitution.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. President Barack Obama had already congratulated Suu Kyi on a landmark victory in the country's first free election in 25 years.

Obama and Ban also praised Myanmar President Thein Sein for successfully staging the historic poll, with the UN chief acknowledging his “courage and vision” to organize an election in which the ruling camp was trounced.

Ban Ki-moon's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement that he “is regretfully aware that a large number of voters from minority communities, in particular the Rohingya, were denied the right to vote and some were disqualified as candidates. 

“There is much hard work that remains ahead on Myanmar's democratic journey and toward making future elections truly inclusive.”

Phil Robertson from Human Rights Watch said Friday that it was time to move on from the country's bloody past.

“Obviously the people of Burma have had their voices heard,” Robertson told Al Jazeera. “I think it's important we know who has won this election, and now the very hard work of moving beyond the human rights abuses of the government comes into play.”

Suu Kyi has been criticized for not speaking out against abuses faced by the Muslim minority. The Rohingya situation will be one of the most contentious issues the new government will face.

White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said Obama would meet with the Myanmar president, along with other regional leaders, during his Asia trip this month.

That endorsement of Suu Kyi's victory could smooth the lengthy post-election transition ahead of the last session of the old parliament, which reconvenes on Monday.

The army has acknowledged the massive success of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy in Sunday's election, and pledged it will respect the final results. On Thursday, the country's powerful military rulers pledged a peaceful transfer of power.

The office of army commander Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said the military will hold talks with Suu Kyi after the election results are complete. Suu Kyi issued an invitation on Wednesday for a meeting with the commander, along with Thein Sein and House Speaker Shwe Mann.

While an NLD majority assures it of being able to elect the president, Suu Kyi remains barred from the highest office by a constitutional provision inserted by the military before it transferred power to Thein Sein's quasi-civilian government in 2011.

Suu Kyi became increasingly defiant on the presidential clause as the scale of her victory has become apparent, making it clear she will run the country regardless of who the NLD elects as president.

"He will have no authority. He will act in accordance with the decisions of the party," said Suu Kyiin an interview with Channel News Asia, adding that the president would be "told exactly what he can do."

With Suu Kyi's victory confirmed, the focus will quickly shift to NLD's presidential candidate and its plans for government.

Myanmar's president runs the executive, with the exception of the powerful ministries of interior, defense and border security, which are controlled by the military.

Under the indirect electoral system, the upper house, lower house, and military bloc in parliament each put forward a presidential candidate. The combined houses then vote on the three candidates, who do not have to be elected members of parliament.

The winner becomes president and forms a government, while the losers become vice presidents with largely ceremonial responsibilities.

The vote for the presidency will take place after the new members take their seats in both houses in February. The president will assume power by the end of March.

Al Jazeera with wire services