Myanmar Regime Forms Parliamentary Body to Rival Opposition CRPH

Myanmar's junta-controlled parliament has formed a new body, namely the Myanmar Parliamentary Union (MPU), aiming to counter the opposition Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and secure international recognition, according to official notices and political analysts. According to an August notification in the official Myanmar Gazette, the MPU is chaired by Aung Lin Dwe, speaker of the regime's parliament, with Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Khin Yi serving as vice chair and Deputy Speaker Jeng Phang Naw Taung as secretary. The regime said the new union aims to standardize parliamentary procedures, coordinate Union and regional bodies, and establish ties with international organizations, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). The move directly targets the CRPH, formed by lawmakers elected in the 2020 general election before the 2021 military coup. International bodies like the IPU recognize the CRPH as Myanmar's legitimate parliamentary representative. Myanmar affairs analyst Dr. Sai Kyi Zin Soe noted that while democratic bodies like the IPU are unlikely to accept the MPU, the regime hopes to leverage ties with friendly nations. “The junta may use those relationships to present the MPU as Myanmar’s official parliamentary institution, paving the way for full political legitimacy,” he said. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has actively pursued parliamentary cooperation during recent visits to Russia, Belarus, India, Laos, and Vietnam. On Aug. 31, a delegation led by the Thai ambassador also met with junta-controlled parliamentary speakers in Naypyidaw. Political analyst U Kyi Myint described the initiative as part of an ongoing struggle between resistance forces and the military regime over both de facto and de jure legitimacy. “The junta is trying to carve out a place in the international parliamentary community,” U Kyi Myint said, adding that ultimate recognition will depend on the outcome of the armed struggle.