Cooperation between Myanmar Hluttaws and German parliament
Mr. U Win Myint, speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw, and MPs welcoming representatives of the Bundestag, Bundesrat and the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation
HSF
“The official start of the new and unique joint project between the Pyithu Hluttaw, the Amyotha Hluttaw, the German Bundestag and the German Bundesrat (upper house of parliament) in cooperation with the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation (HSF) is a clear signal for this [support]”, said Mr. Singhammer.
Since 2011, Myanmar undergoes a remarkable opening process. The parliament, established in 2011 and therefore the youngest parliament in Southeast Asia, plays with its Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw an important role in this context. Despite its greenness, it is the driving force of many democratic and developmental policy processes since the beginning of the reformation process. With the general elections in 2011 and 2015, the country experienced relatively free and fair elections for the first time since decades and was able to form a new government led by the former opposition party NLD (National League of Democracy) and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding
HSF
Strengthening of a more people related parliament
The official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the HSF, Bundestag, Bundesrat, Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw was attended by Myanmar MPs, Mr. Singhammer, the deputy secretary general of the Bundestag, Mr. Prof. Ulrich Schöler, and the senior secretary officer of the Bundesrat, Mrs. Dr. Sandra Michel. During the signing ceremony, the Chairwoman of the HSF, Mrs. Prof. Ursula Männle, pointed out the significance of transparency and openness of democratic parliaments. According to Mrs. Prof. Männle, is the parliament the heart of every democracy and relies on the acceptance and patronage of the democracies’ citizens. Political-intellectual citizens are of great importance for any society, because of their capability to understand legislative processes and also the role and position of the parliament in contrast to the executive.
Vice president of the Bundestag Mr. Singhammer and speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw Manh Win Khaing Than
HSF
Bundestag, Bundesrat and HSF are supporting Myanmar parliamentary administration
As a legacy of more than 50 years of military dictatorship, the parliamentary administration of Myanmar suffers from a lack of presenting the importance of the parliament and its impact on the daily social life of every citizen to the population.
How could the parliament and its MPs make their work more transparent? How could the functioning and duties of the parliament become more understandable for the public? The joint project aims to find answers to these questions.
Therefore, working groups of the Myanmar Hluttaws and the German parliament will publish a brochure about the parliamentary work in Myanmar. The publication shall explain the legislative procedures of the political decision-making processes and the tasks and duties of MPs. Also, the joint project aims to strengthen the relation between the parliamentary administration and the public press. All measures aspire to contribute to a more people related parliament.