Various opinions emerge as government ministers do not attend USDP party congress

The party congress of the United Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) began on September 19, and it is known that various opinions are emerging due to the absence of party members who have become ministers and deputy ministers. It is known that at the USDP party congress held today, a Central Committee and a Commission for the Supervision of the Election and Appointment of Party Leadership were formed. It was observed that the Election and Appointment Commission will be led by party Vice Chairman U Hla Htun, and its members include former ministers and former military generals from the governments of U Than Shwe and U Thein Sein. Among them are former Finance Minister and former Union Minister at the President's Office U Hla Htun, former Union Ministers at the President's Office U Soe Thane and U Tin Naing Thein, former Ayeyawaddy Region Chief Minister U Thein Aung (father of Deputy Commander-in-Chief General Zaw Htain), former Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Ye Myint, and former Information Minister U Kyaw San. They are all senior to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. On September 20, the current party leadership is scheduled to hand over their responsibilities, and the Election and Appointment Commission will review the list of new Central Executive Committee members and elect and appoint the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and General Secretary. It is known that although the party had invited ministers who are members of the party's central committee and are in the government, and had even prepared seats for them, the President's Office decided and prohibited their attendance the day before. "There are various opinions and discussions regarding the absence of party committee members who are also government ministers from the party congress. Some say it's because they hold ministerial positions and cannot attend the party congress. We have to wait and see what Min Aung Hlaing will do and what those senior to him will do," said one observer monitoring the USDP party congress. Vice President Daw Nan Ni Ni Aye, and Ministers U Myo Zaw Thein, Dr. Maung Thin, U Khin Maung Soe, U Ye Myint Htun, and U Maung Myint, who are part of the interim government, are individuals holding party responsibilities. Although it is stipulated by Article 64 and Article 232 (Ta) of the Constitution that the President and Union Ministers shall not participate in party activities during their term of office, there are also indications that there may be other reasons, as the President's Office issued instructions and prohibited their attendance just before the congress was held.