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Union Solidarity and Development Party

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Union Solidarity and Development Party
ပြည်ထောင်စုကြံ့ခိုင်ရေးနှင့် ဖွံ့ဖြိုးရေးပါတီ
AbbreviationUSDP
ChairmanKhin Yi
Secretary-GeneralThet Naing Win
SpokespersonNandar Hla Myint
Vice-ChairmanMyat Hein
Vice-President of MyanmarMyint Swe
FounderThein Sein
Founded2 June 2010 (2010-06-02)
Preceded byUnion Solidarity and Development Association
HeadquartersDekkhinathiri Township, Naypyidaw
IdeologyMilitarism
Authoritarianism[1]
Ultranationalism
Buddhist nationalism
National conservatism[2]
Social conservatism[3]
Right-wing populism
Political positionFar-right
ReligionTheravada Buddhism
Colours  Green
State Administration Council
4 / 18
Party flag
Website
www.usdp.org.mm
This article contains Burmese script. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Burmese script.

The Union Solidarity and Development Party (Burmese: ပြည်ထောင်စုကြံ့ခိုင်ရေးနှင့် ဖွံ့ဖြိုးရေးပါတီ; abbr. USDP) is an ultranationalist, pro-military political party in Myanmar. Alongside the National League for Democracy, it is one of Myanmar's two principal national parties.[4] USDP is the successor to the former ruling military junta's mass organisation, the Union Solidarity and Development Association, and serves as the electoral proxy of the Tatmadaw (military), which operates as a state within a state. Many of its political candidates and leadership are retired generals. It supports authoritarian military leadership.[1] USDP was founded by Prime Minister Thein Sein to contest the 2010 Myanmar general election; the party was headed by Sein until 2013. Since 2022, it has been led by Khin Yi, who was installed as a loyalist of military leader Min Aung Hlaing.[5][6][7]

History

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Establishment

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The USDP was formed on 29 April 2010 by Thein Sein and senior military officers who had retired from the armed forces, in the lead-up to the 2010 Myanmar general election.[8] On 6 July 2010, the military junta permitted its predecessor, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), to dissolve itself and transfer its assets and office to the USDP.[8] This included assets from the USDA's conglomerate, the Myan Gon Myint group of companies, which had interests in key sectors of Myanmar's economy.[9]

2010 election

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The USDP won the 2010 general election, which was boycotted by the opposition.

On 2 May 2011, Shwe Mann assumed the office as temporary chairman of USDP. Htay Oo as deputy chairman, Aung Thaung and Thein Zaw as Secretary 1 and 2. Maung Oo was appointed as Disciplinary Official of the USDP. Former Yangon Mayor Aung Thein Lin was appointed to lead the USDP's Yangon branch.[10]

On 16 October 2012, Thein Sein was re-elected as the chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) at the USDP's first party conference in Naypyidaw.[11]

Because of mounting criticism over his dual role, Thein Sein handed over the position of USDP chairman to Shwe Mann on 1 May 2013.[12]

On 13 August 2015, it was reported that chairman Shwe Mann and general secretary Maung Maung Thein had been removed from their positions.[13][14]

2015 election

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In the lead-up to the 2015 general election, USDP member of parliament, Tin Aye stepped down to become chair of the Union Election Commission (UEC), the country's electoral regulatory body, prompting concerns over the UEC's lack of impartiality and independence.[15]

The opposition National League for Democracy contested the 2015 election.[16] During the election, USDP secured less than 30% of the popular vote, gaining only 8.4% of elected seats in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.[16]

2020 election and military coup

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Following a second landslide victory for the National League for Democracy in the 2020 general election, the USDP baselessly alleged massive electoral fraud alongside the Tatmadaw, unsuccessfully challenged the election outcome in the courts, and called for the election to be re-run.[17][18][19] After all constitutional means of challenging the election results were exhausted, the USDP supported the 2021 military coup d'état and assumed the presidency and multiple seats on the State Administration Council, the military junta.[20][21]

On 12 September 2022, Than Htay resigned as the party chairman and handed over immediately to Vice Chairman Khin Yi, the latter became Acting Chairman. On 5 October 2022, Khin Yi was elected as the new Chairman and officially assumed the party chairmanship.[6][22]

In December 2022, the military junta began replacing hundreds of local government administrators in Yangon Region with USDP supporters.[23]

The USDP was the first party to register under a new junta-enacted electoral law in 2023, and has since begun campaigning for the next general election.[24]

Ideology

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The USDP is widely described as a far-right,[25] ultranationalist party.[26][27] It effectively serves as a proxy for the nation's military, with many of its political candidates and leadership being retired generals.[28][29][30][31][32][33] It has also been described as authoritarian,[34] Buddhist nationalist,[35][27] and right-wing populist.[36]

Leadership

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As of October 2022, USDP is led by:[11]

Funding

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The USDP owns the shares and assets of former Myan Gon Myint group, a conglomerate with interests in gem mining, construction, agriculture, livestock, and imports and exports.[37][9] Myan Gon Myint was first established in 1995 with an initial US$500,000 investment, and earned US$2.7 million that year from selling and renting shops in Yangon's markets.[38] Myan Gon Myint appropriated state-owned assets, and revenues from Myan Gon Myint had been used to fund the operations of USDP's predecessor.[9][37] In June 2020, news emerged that USDP had earned 16 billion kyats (US$11.5 million) between 2006 and 2018, from leasing x-ray cargo scanners to the Customs Department, prompting legislative scrutiny into whether the scanners should be state-owned.[37] USDP's economic activities are in potential violation of Myanmar's Political Parties Registration Law.[9]

USDP party members also pay an annual membership fee (1,000 kyats in 2020), earning the party an additional US$3.5 million per year.[37]

Election results

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House of Nationalities (Amyotha Hluttaw)

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Election Leader Total seats won Total votes Share of votes +/– Government
2010 Thein Sein
129 / 224
 — — Increase 129 Majority government
2012
123 / 224
 — — Decrease 5 Majority government
2015
11 / 224
 — — Decrease 113 Opposition
2020 Than Htay
7 / 224
 — — Decrease 4 Not recognised

House of Representatives (Pyithu Hluttaw)

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Election Leader Total seats won Total votes Share of votes +/– Government
2010 Thein Sein
259 / 440
 11,858,125 56.8% Increase 259 Majority government
2012
220 / 440
 — — Decrease 37 Majority government
2015
30 / 440
 6,341,920 28.3% Decrease 193 Opposition
2020 Than Htay
26 / 440
 — — Decrease 4 Not recognised

References

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  1. ^ a b Macdonald, Adam P. (January 2013). "From Military Rule to Electoral Authoritarianism: The Reconfiguration of Power in Myanmar and its Future". Asian Affairs: An American Review. 40 (1): 20–36. doi:10.1080/00927678.2013.759479. S2CID 154558782.
  2. ^ Haynes, Jeffrey (2019). The Routledge Handbook to Religion and Political Parties. Routledge.
  3. ^ "Coup In Ranks Of Myanmar's Ruling Party Highlights Concern Over Suu Kyi". 13 August 2015.
  4. ^ Oh, Su-Ann (8 September 2020). "Parties and their Significance in the Myanmar 2020 General Election" (PDF). Perspective. 100 (2020). Singapore: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute. ISSN 2335-6677.
  5. ^ "New Chair of Myanmar Military's Proxy Party Urges USDP Cooperation for Regime's Agenda". The Irrawaddy. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Myanmar's army-backed party to replace chief with general's ally". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  7. ^ Aung, Sa Tun; Zay, Aung (4 October 2022). "Junta chief moves to tighten grip over USDP as party conference begins". Myanmar Now. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Burma: Military Party Guaranteed to Dominate Elections". Human Rights Watch. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d "Union Solidarity and Development Party: The Cartel's Party". Justice For Myanmar. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  10. ^ Kha, Kyaw (10 May 2011). "Lower House speaker Thura Shwe Mann appointed USDP chairman". Burma News International. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  11. ^ a b Yuanyuan, Wang (16 October 2012). "President U Thein Sein re-elected as Myanmar's ruling party leader". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  12. ^ "Thein Sein resigns as chairman of Burma's ruling party". DVB News. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  13. ^ Zaw, Hnin Yadana. "Myanmar ruling party chief sacked in power struggle with president". reuters.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
  14. ^ Doherty, Ben (13 August 2015). "Turmoil in Burma's military-backed ruling party as leaders are deposed". the Guardian.
  15. ^ "Burma: Election Fundamentally Flawed". Human Rights Watch. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  16. ^ a b Hein, Aung (16 July 2019). "Is a weak USDP good for Myanmar?". New Mandala. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  17. ^ Naing, Shoon (11 November 2020). "Myanmar opposition demands vote re-run as Suu Kyi's NLD heads for victory". Reuters.
  18. ^ "Myanmar Army-Linked Parties Challenge Election Defeats in Supreme Court". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  19. ^ Goodman, Jack (5 February 2021). "Myanmar coup: Does the army have evidence of voter fraud?". BBC News. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  20. ^ Tun, Htet Myet Min; Thuzar, Moe; Montesano, Michael (8 September 2021). "Buttressing the Anti-NLD Project: Data on the Civilian Members of Myanmar's State Administration Council Junta". ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  21. ^ "Myanmar coup: who are the military figures running the country?". The Guardian. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  22. ^ "Myanmar military-linked party names junta chief's ally as leader". The Star. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  23. ^ Thit, Han. "Myanmar junta replaces Yangon administrators with hardline supporters – Myanmar Now". Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Myanmar Regime's Proxy Political Party Steps up Campaigning". The Irrawaddy. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  25. ^ Oo, Nay Yan (12 May 2017). "Myanmar is ripe for third-party opposition". Lowy Institute for International Policy.
  26. ^ Lwin, Khin Moh Moh; Pai, Myo Set (20 November 2020). "Far-right Buddhist nationalist candidates among biggest losers in 2020 election". Myanmar Now. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  27. ^ a b "Buddhism and State Power in Myanmar". Internal Crisis Group. 5 September 2017.
  28. ^ Strangio, Sebastian (26 November 2020). "What's Next for Myanmar's Military Proxy Party?". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  29. ^ "Myanmar military forcibly recruits villagers into pro-junta militias". Radio Free Asia. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  30. ^ "Explainer: Crisis in Myanmar after army alleges election fraud". Reuters. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  31. ^ Smith, Martin (1 December 2003). "The Enigma of Burma's Tatmadaw: A "State Within a State"". Critical Asian Studies. 35 (4): 621–632. doi:10.1080/1467271032000147069. S2CID 145060842.
  32. ^ Ebbighausen, Rodion (12 February 2021). "Myanmar's military: A state within a state". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  33. ^ Cho, Phyo Thiha (1 July 2020). "USDP says it's no longer favouring retired military officials as MP candidates". Myanmar Now. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  34. ^ Macdonald, Adam P. (January 2013). "From Military Rule to Electoral Authoritarianism: The Reconfiguration of Power in Myanmar and its Future". Asian Affairs: An American Review. 40 (1): 20–36. doi:10.1080/00927678.2013.759479. S2CID 154558782.
  35. ^ Lwin, Khin Moh Moh; Pai, Myo Set (20 November 2020). "Far-right Buddhist nationalist candidates among biggest losers in 2020 election". Myanmar Now. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  36. ^ "Falling Back on Populism in Post-Ideology Myanmar" (PDF). Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  37. ^ a b c d "Military's proxy party enriched itself with customs x-ray machine that 'should be owned by the state'". Myanmar Now. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  38. ^ "Country Report: Myanmar" (PDF). The Economist Intelligence Unit. 1996.
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