Sai Leik , General Secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy ( SNLD ), was interviewed by the Mon News Agency about the current political situation in Myanmar.  What follows is a condensed version of that interview.

Question: If elections do not take place next year, the military council will have to repeal the 2008 Constitution and draw up a new one.   That could take 5 years to 10 years. What do you think about this possibility?

Answer: It is not easy to repeal the Constitution and it is not easy to write a new one. In my opinion, he (General Min Aung Hlaing) already announced that the military council will hold elections in August 2023. But an election requires peace and stability for the people. There needs to be peace and stability. If he does not create these conditions, it will be difficult for them to hold elections. Under the 2008 Constitution he can  only wield power for one year. However, that can be extended by 6 months. I believe that the election will be replaced by something else. Perhaps the  military and its council parties will work together to gain control under a  PR system without them actually leaving politics.

Question: What will happen if they do not hold their next election because of the current unrest in the country?

Answer: Probably, the election will happen, I can not say for sure. For example, their spokesperson said there is no stability in Magway Division and said there is  instability in Karenni and Chin States. So there is no political stability. It is also possible to hold elections by excluding unstable Divisions and States. If he wants to change that, they  will hold the election. They will continue to do their best to legitimize their actions.

Question: Currently, some political parties are discussing PR systems in collaboration with the UEC. Some observers say the military is the only party that has won 25 percent of the vote to stay in power. What do you think of this situation?

Answer: This is true. It is another step in the military’s quest to keep its interests afloat. This PR system was proposed by the ethnic parties and the NLD in January 2016, shortly before the end of Thein Sein’s tenure . At that time, the Constitutional Tribunal had already decided. This was not in line with the 2008 Constitution. Now, the military will use the PR system to gain power — they will do whatever it takes.

Question: What would you like to say about whether the election can be held or not?

Answer: Answer: There is no political stability. If the people do not accept it, the election will never be successful. The most important thing is that the military will not be able to conform to the will of the people without them actually leaving politics. It is impossible for them to be in harmony with the people.