No Factions Within USDP, Says Executive Committee Member

There are no factions or divisions within the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), said U Hla Thein, a Central Executive Committee member of the USDP. U Hla Thein responded to media questions in this manner at the USDP press conference held in Nay Pyi Taw on September 20. He stated that the reason for this situation is that in the reorganization of party structures from the village/ward level to the central level, the person who receives the most votes through a secret ballot system is appointed as the chairman. He cited the retirement of some chairmen who had served for many years and the emergence of educated young people as evidence. U Hla Thein further stated that once a person becomes a party member of the USDP, they are considered a permanent party member by the party. Therefore, individuals with long party experience and those with work experience in major government departments, such as those who have served as ministers or higher, or directors-general or higher, and experienced and seasoned individuals, have been reappointed as central advisors of the party. U Hla Thein said that by reappointing them in this way, the benefits of being able to immediately understand the needs of the people and what needs to be improved can be obtained. At the 4th Party Congress held from September 19 to 20, the party's Central Committee and Central Executive Committee were reorganized, and the current chairman, U Khin Yi, was re-elected as the party chairman. It was learned that 336 Central Committee members and 68 alternate Central Committee members were also elected at this congress.