View source for National League for Democracy

{{short description|Political party in Myanmar}}{{About|Burmese political party|Tanzanian political party|National League for Democracy (Tanzania)}}
{{use British English|date=April 2020}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = National League for Democracy
| abbreviation     = NLD
| native_name      = {{noitalics|{{nobold|{{lang|my|အမျိုးသားဒီမိုကရေစီ အဖွဲ့ချုပ်ပါတီ}}}}}}
| logo             = 
| leader           = [[Aung San Suu Kyi]]
| founders         = {{ubl|[[Aung Shwe]]|[[Tin Oo]]|[[Kyi Maung]]|Aung San Suu Kyi|[[Aung Gyi]]}}
| founded          = {{start date and age|df=yes|p=y|1988|9|27}}
| banned           = {{end date|2023|3|28|df=y}}
| headquarters     = 97B West Shwe Gon Daing Road, [[Bahan Township]], [[Yangon]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304177104577311330962815886.html?lpe=WSJ_PRO&mg=com-wsj#articleTabs%3Darticle|title=Once-Shunned Quarters Becomes Tourist Mecca|last=Frangos|first=Alex|author2=Patrick Barta|date=30 March 2012|publisher=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2 April 2012}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| membership_year  = 
| membership       = 
| ideology         = {{ubl|class=nowrap
 | <!--Don't type [[Social liberalism]] or [[Liberal conservatism]]-->[[Liberal democracy]]
 | [[Populism]]
 | [[Federalism]]
 | [[Parliamentary system|Parliamentarism]]
 | [[Economic liberalism]]{{efn|[[Aung San Suu Kyi]]'s faction is considered anti-[[free market]]<ref>[https://www.fraserinstitute.org/commentary/myanmars-hero-holds-anti-free-market-views Myanmar’s ‘hero’ holds anti-free market views]. [[Fraser Institute]] December 9, 2015. Fred McMahon </ref>}}
| 
}}
| position         = [[Centrism|Centre]]<ref>{{cite book |editor=Derbyshire |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RyAGDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA108 |title=Encyclopedia of World Political Systems |page=108 |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781317471561 |access-date=13 January 2023 |archive-date=12 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412115115/https://books.google.com/books?id=RyAGDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA108 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| international    = 
| website          = nld-official.org (dead)<br>([https://web.archive.org/web/20210307060432/http://nld-official.org/ 7 March 2021 archive])
| regional         = [[Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats]] (observer)
| colours          = [[Red]]
| seats1_title     = Seats in the [[House of Nationalities]]
| seats1           = 
| seats2_title     = Seats in the [[Pyithu Hluttaw|House of Representatives]]
| seats2           = 
| seats3_title     = Seats in the [[State and Regional Hluttaws]]
| seats3           = 
| seats4_title     = [[Ethnic Affairs Minister]]s
| seats4           = 
| symbol           = 
| colorcode        = {{party color|National League for Democracy}}
| flag             = [[File:Flag of National League for Democracy.svg|200px]]
| country          = Myanmar
}}
{{Contains special characters|Burmese}}

The '''National League for Democracy''' ({{langx|my|အမျိုးသား ဒီမိုကရေစီ အဖွဲ့ချုပ်}}, {{IPA|my|ʔəmjóðá dìmòkəɹèsì ʔəpʰwḛdʑoʊʔ|IPA}}; [[Abbreviation|abbr.]] '''NLD'''; Burmese abbr. ဒီချုပ်) is a deregistered liberal democratic political party in [[Myanmar]] (formerly Burma). It became the country's [[ruling party]] after a landslide victory in the [[2015 Myanmar general election|2015 general election]] but was overthrown in a [[2021 Myanmar coup d'état|coup d'état in February 2021]] following another landslide [[2020 Myanmar general election|election victory in 2020]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mahtani|first=Shibani|date=|title=Myanmar military seizes power in coup after detaining Aung San Suu Kyi|newspaper=The Washington post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/myanmar-aung-sun-suu-kyi-arrest/2021/01/31/c780ce6a-6419-11eb-886d-5264d4ceb46d_story.html|access-date=1 February 2021|archive-date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201182106/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/myanmar-aung-sun-suu-kyi-arrest/2021/01/31/c780ce6a-6419-11eb-886d-5264d4ceb46d_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Founded on 27 September 1988, the NLD has become one of the most influential parties in Myanmar's pro-[[democracy]] movement. [[Aung San Suu Kyi]], the former [[State Counsellor of Myanmar]], serves as its leader. The party won a substantial parliamentary majority in the [[1990 Myanmar general election]]. However, the ruling [[State Peace and Development Council|military junta]] refused to recognise the result. On 6 May 2010, the party was declared illegal and ordered to be disbanded by the junta after refusing to register for the [[2010 Myanmar general election|elections slated for November 2010]].<ref name="HT">{{cite web|title=National League for Democracy disbanded in Myanmar|url=http://www.haitinews.net/story/630891|publisher=Haiti News|date=4 May 2010|access-date=11 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427155022/http://www.haitinews.net/story/630891|archive-date=27 April 2011}}</ref> In November 2011, the NLD announced its intention to register as a political party to contest future elections, and Myanmar's [[Union Election Commission]] approved their application for registration on 13 December 2011.<ref>[http://ph.news.yahoo.com/suu-kyis-myanmar-oppo,sition-wins-legal-recognition-034032823.html Suu Kyi's Myanmar opposition party wins legal status] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404082400/https://ph.news.yahoo.com/suu-kyis-myanmar-opposition-wins-legal-recognition-034032823.html |date=4 April 2015 }}, ''[[The Associated Press]]'', 13 December 2011</ref>

In the [[2012 Myanmar by-elections|2012 by-elections]], the NLD contested 44 of the 45 available seats, winning 43, with its only loss being in one seat to the [[Shan Nationalities Democratic Party|SNDP]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/it-is-the-victory-of-people-aung-san-suu-kyi/245176-2.html |title=It is the victory of the people: Aung San Suu Kyi on Myanmar – World News – IBNLive |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |date=10 May 2011 |access-date=5 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406020422/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/it-is-the-victory-of-people-aung-san-suu-kyi/245176-2.html |archive-date=6 April 2012 }}</ref> Party leader Aung San Suu Kyi won the seat of [[Kawhmu]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-04/02/c_131504585.htm |title=Myanmar election commission announces NLD wins overwhelmingly in by-elections |date=2 April 2012 |publisher=Xinhua |access-date=30 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229134843/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-04/02/c_131504585.htm |archive-date=29 December 2016 }}</ref> In the [[2015 Myanmar general election|2015 general election]], the NLD won a supermajority in both houses of the [[Assembly of the Union|Assembly]], paving the way for the country's first non-military president in 54 years. The NLD is an observer party of the [[Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats]].

On 21 May 2021, the junta-controlled Union Election Commission (UEC) announced plans to permanently dissolve the NLD, though the junta later temporarily reversed this decision. In January 2023, the junta enacted a new electoral law designed to favor the [[Union Solidarity and Development Party]] (USDP), the military's electoral proxy, leading the NLD to announce that it would not re-register as a political party.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |title=Myanmar's opposition party refuses to re-register under new junta law |url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/myanmar-party-refuses-02062023193308.html |access-date=13 February 2023 |work=[[Radio Free Asia]] |date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=12 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212202452/https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/myanmar-party-refuses-02062023193308.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 28 March 2023, the UEC dissolved the NLD for failing to register, a decision which the NLD rejected as illegitimate.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Min Ye Kyaw |author2=Rebecca Ratcliffe |title=Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party dissolved |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/28/aung-san-suu-kyi-national-league-democracy-faces-dissolution-myanmar |access-date=30 April 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=28 March 2023 |location=[[Bangkok, Thailand]] |archive-date=29 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429154516/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/28/aung-san-suu-kyi-national-league-democracy-faces-dissolution-myanmar |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==

=== 1990s: Beginnings ===
The NLD was formed in the aftermath of the [[8888 Uprising]], a series of protests in favour of democracy which took place in 1990 and ended when the military again took control of the country in a coup. It formed under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of [[Aung San]], a pivotal figure in the Burmese independence movement of the 1940s. She was recruited by concerned democracy advocates.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} The first founding chair is Brigadier General [[Aung Gyi]] and Aung San Suu Kyi is the General Secretary of the Party.

In the [[1990 Myanmar general election|1990 parliamentary elections]], the party took 59% of the vote and won 392 out of 492 contested seats, compared to 10 seats won by the governing [[National Unity Party (Myanmar)|National Unity Party]].<ref>Houtman, Daigaku & Kenkyūjo, 1999, p. 1</ref> However, the ruling [[military junta]] (formerly [[SLORC]], later known as the [[State Peace and Development Council]] or SPDC) did not let the party form a government.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25503318-16741,00.html Junta must free Burma's leading lady] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816235900/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25503318-16741,00.html |date=16 August 2009 }}, ''[[The Australian]]'', 19 May 2009</ref> Soon after the election, the party was repressed and in 1996 Suu Kyi was placed under [[house arrest]]. This was her status for 16 of the following 21 years until her release on 13 November 2010. A number of senior NLD members escaped arrest, however, and formed the [[National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma]] (NCGUB).

=== 2000s: Continued repression under military rule ===
In 2001, the government permitted NLD office branches to re-open throughout Burma and freed some imprisoned members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aappb.org/report7_confidence_building_pp.pdf|title=Burma's Confidence Building and Political Prisoners|publisher=[[Assistance Association for Political Prisoners]]|website=aappb.org|access-date=30 April 2018|archive-date=28 May 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060528052015/http://www.aappb.org/report7_confidence_building_pp.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2002, NLD's general secretary, Aung San Suu Kyi, was again released from house arrest. She and other NLD members made numerous trips throughout the country and received support from the public. However, on their trip to Depayin township in May 2003, dozens of NLD members were shot and killed in a military-sponsored massacre. Its general secretary, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the party's vice president, U Tin Oo, were again arrested.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aseanmp.org/resources/Depayin%20Massacre.pdf | title=The Depayin Massacre: Two years on, Justice denied | publisher=Asean Inter-parliamentary Myanmar caucus | date=30 May 2005 | access-date=20 November 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614185341/http://www.aseanmp.org/resources/Depayin%20Massacre.pdf | archive-date=14 June 2007 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

From 2004, the government prohibited the activities of the party. In 2006, many members resigned from NLD, citing harassment and pressure from the [[Tatmadaw]] (Armed Forces) and the [[Union Solidarity and Development Association]]. In October 2008, following the crackdown on the aftermath of the [[Saffron Revolution]] a bomb exploded in the Htan Chauk Pin quarter of the [[Shwepyitha Township]] of [[Yangon]], near the office of the military junta-backed [[Union Solidarity and Development Association]] killing one.<ref>{{cite news|title=One Dead in Burma Blasts|url=http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/bombs-10202008121201.html|access-date=3 December 2016|agency=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|publisher=Radio Free Asia|date=20 October 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203130322/http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/bombs-10202008121201.html|archive-date=3 December 2016}}</ref> The victim was identified as Thet Oo Win, a former Buddhist monk who participated in the Saffron Revolution, was killed while improvising the bomb at his own residence.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=Increasing bomb blasts worry Rangoon residents – Zarni & Mungpi|url=http://www.burmanet.org/news/2008/10/21/mizzima-news-increasing-bomb-blasts-worry-rangoon-residents-zarni-mungpi/|access-date=3 December 2016|agency=Mizzima News|issue=1|publisher=BurmaNet News|date=21 October 2008|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203125805/http://www.burmanet.org/news/2008/10/21/mizzima-news-increasing-bomb-blasts-worry-rangoon-residents-zarni-mungpi/|archive-date=3 December 2016}}</ref> The junta blamed the National League for Democracy party of planting that bomb, but experts believed at the time that the opposition was not in a position to carry out such acts amidst the tightly controlled security environment.<ref name=":0" /> The junta detained several members of the party in connection with the bombings that year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Agence France Presse: Myanmar blast victim was ex-monk turned bombmaker: state media|url=http://www.burmanet.org/news/2008/10/21/agence-france-presse-myanmar-blast-victim-was-ex-monk-turned-bombmaker-state-media/|access-date=3 December 2016|agency=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|publisher=BurmaNet News|date=21 October 2008|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203130036/http://www.burmanet.org/news/2008/10/21/agence-france-presse-myanmar-blast-victim-was-ex-monk-turned-bombmaker-state-media/|archive-date=3 December 2016}}</ref>

=== 2010s: Transition to power-sharing with the military ===
[[File:NLD Calendar with Aung San Suu Kyi.jpg|thumb|NLD calendar from 2016]]
The NLD boycotted the [[2010 Myanmar general election|general election held in November 2010]] because many of its most prominent members were barred from standing. The laws were designed in such a way that the party would have had to expel these members to be allowed to run. This decision, taken in May, led to the party being officially banned.<ref name="HT"/> A splinter group named the [[National Democratic Force]] broke away from the NLD to contest the elections,<ref name="ndf">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/may/07/new-democratic-party-burma-elections |title=New Burmese opposition party to contest election |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=7 May 2010 |access-date=7 May 2010 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914224621/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/may/07/new-democratic-party-burma-elections |archive-date=14 September 2013 }}</ref> but secured less than 3% of the vote. The election was won in a landslide by the military-backed [[Union Solidarity and Development Party]] (USDP), and was described by [[U.S.]] President [[Barack Obama]] as "stolen".<ref>{{cite news|title=15,000 flee Burma in post-election violence|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/15-000-flee-burma-in-post-election-violence-1.899241|access-date=19 November 2011|newspaper=CBC News|date=8 November 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211140245/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2010/11/08/burma-election.html|archive-date=11 December 2011}}</ref>

Discussions were held between Suu Kyi and the Burmese government during 2011, which led to a number of official gestures to meet her demands. In October, around a tenth of Myanmar's political prisoners were freed in an amnesty and trade unions were legalised.<ref>{{cite news|title=Burma frees dozens of political prisoners|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15269259|access-date=19 November 2011|newspaper=BBC News|date=12 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118214652/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15269259|archive-date=18 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Burma law to allow labour unions and strikes|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15303968|access-date=19 November 2011|newspaper=BBC News|date=14 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118122129/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15303968|archive-date=18 November 2011}}</ref>

On 18 November 2011, following a meeting of its leaders, the NLD announced its intention to re-register as a political party in order to contend in 48 by-elections necessitated by the promotion of [[Union Solidarity and Development Party]] MPs who had been appointed as ministers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Suu Kyi's NLD democracy party to rejoin Burma politics|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15787605|access-date=19 November 2011|newspaper=BBC News|date=18 November 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119002541/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15787605|archive-date=19 November 2011}}</ref> Following the decision, Suu Kyi held a telephone conference with Barack Obama, in which it was agreed that U.S. Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] would make a visit to Myanmar, a move received with caution by Burma's ally China.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. sees Burma reforms as strategic opening to support democracy|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-sees-burma-reforms-as-strategic-opening-to-support-democracy/2011/11/18/gIQA22gwZN_story_1.html|access-date=19 November 2011|newspaper=Washington Post|date=19 November 2011|first=Craig|last=Whitlock|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728020152/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-sees-burma-reforms-as-strategic-opening-to-support-democracy/2011/11/18/gIQA22gwZN_story_1.html|archive-date=28 July 2013}}</ref> The visit took place on 30 November.<ref>{{cite news|title='Hopeful' Hillary Clinton starts Burma visit|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15956664|publisher=BBC News|access-date=1 December 2011|date=30 November 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130174125/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15956664|archive-date=30 November 2011}}</ref> [[European Union]] Vice President [[Catherine Ashton]] welcomed the possibility of "fair and transparent" elections in Burma, and said that the EU would be reviewing its foreign policy towards the country.<ref>{{cite news|title=EU hails Myanmar moves, reviewing policy|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-myanmar-idUSTRE7AH1ER20111118|access-date=19 November 2011|date=18 November 2011|work=Reuters|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118193126/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/18/us-eu-myanmar-idUSTRE7AH1ER20111118|archive-date=18 November 2011}}</ref>

The NLD contested the all available seats during the [[2012 Myanmar by-elections]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Olarn |first=Kocha |date=2012-04-04 |title=Myanmar confirms sweeping election victory for Suu Kyi's party |url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/04/04/world/asia/myanmar-elections/index.html |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329220832/https://www.cnn.com/2012/04/04/world/asia/myanmar-elections/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The election was marred with skepticism over whether the results would be legitimate, and the NLD reported issues with campaign conduct and other irregularities in the election's lead-up.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Selway |first=Joel Sawat |date=2012-03-30 |title=Opinion {{!}} In Myanmar, an Election Doomed to Fail |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/opinion/in-myanmar-an-election-doomed-to-fail.html |access-date=2023-03-29 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329220832/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/opinion/in-myanmar-an-election-doomed-to-fail.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-03-30 |title=Suu Kyi complains of irregularities in Myanmar election |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-myanmar-election-idUKBRE82T0FO20120330 |access-date=2023-03-29 |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329220823/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-myanmar-election-idUKBRE82T0FO20120330 |url-status=live }}</ref> NLD candidates, including Suu Kyi, won 43 of the 45 available seats at both the national and regional levels.<ref name=":3" /> Its main rival, the USDP also contested all available seats, losing all but one seat.

During preparations for the [[2015 Myanmar general election|2015 elections]], the party was criticised for discouraging Muslim candidates, a step interpreted as a desire to maintain relations with hardline Buddhist monks such as the [[Ma Ba Tha]] association.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Aung San Suu Kyi's party excludes Muslim candidates|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34182489|access-date = 3 January 2016|first = Jonah |last =Fisher|work = [[BBC News]]|date = 8 September 2015|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151122050221/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34182489|archive-date = 22 November 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref> The NLD secured 85% of all available parliamentary seats during the election.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dinmore |first=Guy |date=13 November 2015 |title=NLD Wins Absolute Majority in Parliament |url=http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/17623-nld-wins-absolute-majority-in-parliament.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205084501/http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/17623-nld-wins-absolute-majority-in-parliament.html |archive-date=5 February 2016 |access-date=13 November 2015 |work=[[The Myanmar Times]]}}</ref>

[[Ko Ni]], a legal advisor to the party and a Muslim, was assassinated in January 2017. The party was criticised by international media outlets for its lack of response to renewed [[Rohingya genocide|military-led violence against the Rohingya]] beginning in 2016, as well as for "doing little to address the country’s weak rule of law, corrupt judiciary, or impunity for security force abuses" with the power they had (although security institutions remain dominated by the military).<ref>{{cite web |title=Myanmar |url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/burma |website=Human Rights Watch |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=2018 |series=World Report 2019 |archive-date=13 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313184013/https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/burma |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2020s-present: Return to military rule ===
The NLD won the [[2020 Myanmar general election]] by a larger margin than in 2015, securing the mandate to form a new government.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-11-13 |title=Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi's party wins majority in election |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54899170 |access-date=2023-03-29 |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329220822/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54899170 |url-status=live }}</ref> By contrast, the military-backed [[Union Solidarity and Development Party]] lost 8 additional seats in both chambers of the national legislature. Domestic and international election observers deemed the election results credible, noting no major irregularities.<ref name="JS">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=29 January 2021 |title=Joint Statement: Domestic election observer groups say 2020 Myanmar polls results credible, call support for peaceful power transition |url=https://anfrel.org/joint-statement-domestic-election-observer-groups-say-2020-myanmar-polls-results-credible-call-support-for-peaceful-power-transition/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223120542/https://anfrel.org/joint-statement-domestic-election-observer-groups-say-2020-myanmar-polls-results-credible-call-support-for-peaceful-power-transition/ |archive-date=23 February 2021 |access-date=6 February 2021 |website=Asian Network for Free Elections |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":42">{{Cite web |date=11 November 2020 |title=Election 2020 {{!}} No Major Irregularities in Myanmar Election: Carter Center |url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/elections/no-major-irregularities-myanmar-election-carter-center.html |access-date=6 February 2021 |website=The Irrawaddy |language=en-US |archive-date=6 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206022902/https://www.irrawaddy.com/elections/no-major-irregularities-myanmar-election-carter-center.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Nonetheless, the military claimed the vote was fraudulent, citing 8.6 million irregularities in voter lists.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |date=2021-05-03 |title=Myanmar election commission rejects military's fraud claims |url=https://apnews.com/article/aung-san-suu-kyi-elections-myanmar-cc1b225b806c27dda748d3ab51d0e47f |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=AP NEWS |language=en |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203131321/https://apnews.com/article/aung-san-suu-kyi-elections-myanmar-cc1b225b806c27dda748d3ab51d0e47f |url-status=live }}</ref> On 28 January 2021, the [[Union Election Commission]] rejected the military's fraud allegations, unable to corroborate the military's claims.<ref name=":22" />

During the [[2021 Myanmar coup d'état]] on 1 February, the military quickly mobilised to key NLD leaders, including Suu Kyi, President [[Win Nyunt]], and 400 MP-elects, who were all in Naypyidaw to be sworn into office the following day.<ref>{{cite web |last=McPherson |first=Poppy |date=1 February 2021 |editor-last=Cooney |editor-first=Peter |title=Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders arrested, party spokesman says |url=https://news.trust.org/item/20210131230656-kkg7f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201003325/https://news.trust.org/item/20210131230656-kkg7f |archive-date=1 February 2021 |access-date=1 February 2021 |website=news.trust.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Hundreds of Myanmar MPs under house arrest |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/784319-hundreds-of-myanmar-mps-under-house-arrest |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203070626/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/784319-hundreds-of-myanmar-mps-under-house-arrest |archive-date=3 February 2021 |access-date=4 February 2021 |website=The News |language=en}}</ref> On 4 February 70 NLD MPs took an [[oath of office]], in clear defiance of the coup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 February 2021 |title=NLD lawmakers in Nay Pyi Taw defy military, take oath of office |url=https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/nld-lawmakers-in-nay-pyi-taw-defy-military-take-oath-of-office/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204125351/https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/nld-lawmakers-in-nay-pyi-taw-defy-military-take-oath-of-office/ |archive-date=4 February 2021 |access-date=4 February 2021 |website=Frontier Myanmar |language=en-US}}</ref> In the succeeding weeks, the military junta continued arresting hundreds of NLD members, most of whom were arrested under the pretext of participating in anti-coup protests.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-03 |title=Three-fourths of NLD members arrested since Myanmar coup still detained, says party |url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/detainees-01032022212032.html |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Radio Free Asia |language=en |archive-date=31 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331162850/https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/detainees-01032022212032.html |url-status=live }}</ref> {{As of|2023|March}}, 1,232 NLD members have been jailed (including 80 MP-elects), while at least 84 NLD members have died in custody.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-03-31 |title=Myanmar Regime Sentences Jailed NLD Lawmaker to 11 More Years in Prison |url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/politics/myanmar-regime-sentences-jailed-nld-lawmaker-to-11-more-years-in-prison.html |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=The Irrawaddy |language=en-US |archive-date=31 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331162848/https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/politics/myanmar-regime-sentences-jailed-nld-lawmaker-to-11-more-years-in-prison.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The NLD rejected the military's legal basis for the staging a coup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2021 |title='The constitution is invalid now': NLD patron fires back at military |url=https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/the-constitution-is-invalid-now-nld-patron-fires-back-at-military/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201143119/https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/the-constitution-is-invalid-now-nld-patron-fires-back-at-military/ |archive-date=1 February 2021 |access-date=2 February 2021 |website=Frontier Myanmar |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Frontier-2021a">{{Cite web |date=2 February 2021 |title=After coup, medical workers spearhead civil disobedience campaign |url=https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/after-coup-medical-workers-spearhead-civil-disobedience-campaign/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203131438/https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/after-coup-medical-workers-spearhead-civil-disobedience-campaign/ |archive-date=3 February 2021 |access-date=2 February 2021 |website=Frontier Myanmar |language=en-US}}</ref>

Post-coup, NLD offices were occupied and raided by police authorities, starting on 2 February.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Myanmar's NLD says offices raided in 'unlawful acts', computers, documents seized|url=https://money.yahoo.com/myanmars-nld-says-offices-raided-081024748.html|access-date=2021-02-09|website=money.yahoo.com|date=3 February 2021 |language=en-US|archive-date=12 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212233652/https://money.yahoo.com/myanmars-nld-says-offices-raided-081024748.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Documents, computers and laptops were forcibly seized, and the NLD called these raids unlawful.<ref name=":1" /> On 9 February, police raided the NLD headquarters in Yangon.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Martin Petty|date=2021-02-09|title=Myanmar police raid headquarters of Suu Kyi's NLD party - lawmakers|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/myanmar-politics-raid-int-idUSKBN2A927E|access-date=2021-02-09|archive-date=9 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209184554/https://www.reuters.com/article/myanmar-politics-raid-int-idUSKBN2A927E|url-status=live}}</ref>  On 21 May 2021, the junta-controlled Union Election Commission (UEC) announced plans to permanently dissolve the NLD,<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2021 |title=Myanmar's junta-appointed electoral body to dissolve Suu Kyi's party, report says |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/21/asia/suu-kyi-nld-party-dissolved-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2021-05-21 |website=CNN |agency=[[Reuters]] |archive-date=21 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521095029/https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/21/asia/suu-kyi-nld-party-dissolved-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> though the junta later reversed this decision, with spokesman [[Zaw Min Tun (general)|Zaw Min Tun]] saying that the NLD will decide whether to stand in the [[Next Myanmar general election|next general election]].<ref>{{cite news |date=26 January 2022 |title=Myanmar military won't dissolve Suu Kyi's NLD party: official |work=[[Nikkei Asia]] |location=[[Yangon]] and [[Bangkok, Thailand]] |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanmar-Crisis/Myanmar-military-won-t-dissolve-Suu-Kyi-s-NLD-party-official |access-date=1 August 2022 |archive-date=3 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803092402/https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanmar-Crisis/Myanmar-military-won-t-dissolve-Suu-Kyi-s-NLD-party-official |url-status=live }}</ref> After the junta enacted a new electoral law in January 2023 designed to favor the [[Union Solidarity and Development Party]] (USDP), the military's electoral proxy, the NLD announced it would not re-register as a political party and would not recognize the results of any election held by the junta.<ref name=":2" /> On 28 March 2023, the UEC dissolved the NLD, which, in turn, challenged the decision saying that the UEC has no legitimacy as the junta itself "is by no means legal".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party dissolved by Myanmar's junta |url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/nld-dissolved-election-03282023170619.html |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=Radio Free Asia |date=28 March 2023 |language=en |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329024723/https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/nld-dissolved-election-03282023170619.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Ideology and political positions ==
The party advocates a non-violent movement towards multi-party democracy in Myanmar, which was under military rule from 1962 to 2011.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 November 2010 |title=Aung San Suu Kyi released |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/aung-san-suu-kyi-released-1.916323 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116083957/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/aung-san-suu-kyi-released-1.916323 |archive-date=16 November 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The party also claims to support [[human rights]] (including broad-based [[freedom of speech]]), the [[rule of law]], and national reconciliation.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 November 2010 |title=Suu Kyi calls for talks with junta leader |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/suu-kyi-calls-for-talks-with-junta-leader-1.895078 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117024235/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/suu-kyi-calls-for-talks-with-junta-leader-1.895078 |archive-date=17 November 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The NLD is described as [[Liberalism|liberal]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Atkeson |first1=Edward B. |title=The New Legions : American Strategy and the Responsibility of Power. |date=2011 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |location=Lanham |isbn=9781442213791 |page=159}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Burma's Rohingya Facing 'Final Stages of Genocide' |url=https://time.com/4089276/burma-rohingya-genocide-report-documentary/ |magazine=Time |language=en}}</ref> democratic-liberal,<ref name="Yap_Redmond">{{cite conference |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321938815 |title=Challenges for the National League for Democracy in Achieving Peace and Democracy in Myanmar |author=Zappulla, Roberta|date= 2017 |publisher=Metropolitan University of Prague |via=Research gate |format=PDF |quote=The firm ideology of the NLD founds a new facet amid democratic liberalism and liberal conservatism.}}</ref> [[liberal-conservative]],<ref name="Yap_Redmond"/> and [[social-liberal]].<ref>{{cite news|work=Dynamite News|title=Aung San Suu Kyi's award rescinded by US Museum|date=8 March 2018|url=https://www.dynamitenews.com/story/aung-san-suu-kyis-award-rescinded-by-us-museum|access-date=2 September 2022|archive-date=14 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114105308/https://www.dynamitenews.com/story/aung-san-suu-kyis-award-rescinded-by-us-museum|url-status=live}}</ref> The NLD supports [[populism]]<ref>{{cite conference |url=https://www.tni.org/files/article-downloads/erpi_cp_67_win.pdf |title=Falling back on populism in post-ideology Myanmar |author=Khin Zaw Win|date=March 2018 |publisher=Emancipato ry Rural Politics Initiative |conference=Authoritarian Populism and the Rural World |via=Transnational Institute }}</ref> and [[protectionist]] economic policies.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yap |first1=Livia |last2=Redmond |first2=Tom |title=Asia Investors Split With West Over Myanmar's Rohingya Crackdown |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-06/asia-investors-split-with-west-over-myanmar-s-rohingya-crackdown |website=Bloomberg |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=6 March 2019 |archive-date=3 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103042555/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-06/asia-investors-split-with-west-over-myanmar-s-rohingya-crackdown |url-status=live }}</ref> Historically, the NLD has been a [[social-democratic]] party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadleft.org/mm.htm|title=Leftist Parties of Myanmar|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807044341/http://www.broadleft.org/mm.htm|archive-date=7 August 2011|access-date=24 December 2014}}</ref>

Aung San Suu Kyi also claimed amendments to the constitution of 2008, drafted with the input of the armed forces, such as the mandatory granting of 25% of seats in parliament to appointed military representatives, are undemocratic.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 May 2013 |title=Democracy Digest » Burma must repeal repressive laws, Suu Kyi says in leaked broadcast |work=Democracy Digest |url=http://www.demdigest.net/blog/2012/03/burma-must-repeal-repressive-laws-suu-kyi-says-in-leaked-broadcast/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510030509/http://www.demdigest.net/blog/2012/03/burma-must-repeal-repressive-laws-suu-kyi-says-in-leaked-broadcast/ |archive-date=10 May 2013}}</ref>[[File:NLD office.JPG|thumb|National League for Democracy's headquarters in Yangon (before reconstruction)]]

==Party symbols==
The party flag features the [[peacock]], a prominent symbol of Myanmar. The dancing peacock (the peacock in courtship or in display of its feathers) was frequently featured in Burmese monarchic flags as well as other nationalist symbols in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myanmars.net/myanmar/myanmar-flag-emblem.htm |title=Burma flag and emblems |publisher=Myanmars.net |access-date=5 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406101349/http://www.myanmars.net/myanmar/myanmar-flag-emblem.htm |archive-date=6 April 2012 }}</ref> The fighting peacock is associated with the decades-long democratic struggle against military dictatorship in the country. The latter closely resembles a [[green peafowl]], as it has a tufted crest. The NLD party symbol is adopted from the Myanmar (Burmese) Student Union flag. This student union organised since the uprising against British colonial rule in Burma, years before the independence of Burma in 1948, had played a major political role in Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi's late father Bogyoke Aung San (General Aung San) was one of the former presidents of the Rangoon University Student Union.

The party emblem is a traditional [[Asian conical hat|bamboo hat]] ({{lang|my|ခမောက်}}).<ref>{{cite news|last=Hla Tun|first=Aung|title=Burmese democrats fall out over bamboo hat symbol|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/burmese-democrats-fall-out-over-bamboo-hat-symbol-2017261.html|access-date=19 November 2011|newspaper=The Independent|date=3 July 2010|location=London|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116092844/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/burmese-democrats-fall-out-over-bamboo-hat-symbol-2017261.html|archive-date=16 November 2011}}</ref>

==Election results==
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2022}}

===Burmese Constitutional Committee===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Election
! Total seats won
! Total votes
! Share of votes
! Outcome of election
! Note
! Election leader
|-
![[1990 Myanmar general election|1990]]
| {{Composition bar|392|492|hex={{party color|National League for Democracy}}}}
| 7,930,841
| 59.9%
| {{increase}} 392
| {{no|Not recognised}}
| [[Aung San Suu Kyi]]
|}

===House of Nationalities (Amyotha Hluttaw)===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Election
! Total seats won
! Total votes
! Share of votes
! Outcome of election
! Note
! Election leader
|-
![[2010 Myanmar general election|2010]]
| {{Composition bar|0|224|hex={{party color|National League for Democracy}}}}
| —
| —
| —
| {{partial|Boycotted}}
| rowspan="4" | [[Aung San Suu Kyi]]
|-
![[2015 Myanmar general election|2015]]
| {{Composition bar|135|224|hex={{party color|National League for Democracy}}}}
| 13,100,673
| 57.68
| {{increase}} 135
| {{yes2|Majority government}}
|-
![[2020 Myanmar general election|2020]]
| {{Composition bar|138|224|hex={{party color|National League for Democracy}}}}
| 18,259,248
| 68.31
| {{increase}} 3
| {{no|Not recognised}}
|-
|}

===House of Representatives (Pyithu Hluttaw)===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Election
! Total seats won
! Total votes
! Share of votes
! Outcome of election
! Note
! Election leader
|-
![[2010 Myanmar general election|2010]]
| {{Composition bar|0|440|hex={{party color|National League for Democracy}}}}
| —
| —
| —
| {{partial|Boycotted}}
| rowspan=4|[[Aung San Suu Kyi]]
|-
![[2015 Myanmar general election|2015]]
| {{Composition bar|255|440|hex={{party color|National League for Democracy}}}}
| 12,821,899
| 57.20
| {{increase}} 255
| {{yes2|Majority government}}
|-
![[2020 Myanmar general election|2020]]
| {{Composition bar|258|440|hex={{party color|National League for Democracy}}}}
| 18,146,943
| 68.04
| {{increase}} 3
| {{no|Not recognised}}
|-
|}

===State and Regional Hluttaws===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Election
! Total seats won
! Total votes
! Share of votes
! Outcome of election
! Note
! Election leader
|-
! [[2015 Myanmar general election|2015]]
| {{Composition bar|476|850|hex={{party color|National League for Democracy}}}}
| —
| —
| {{increase}} 474
| 
| rowspan=2|[[Aung San Suu Kyi]]
|-
! [[2020 Myanmar general election|2020]]
| {{Composition bar|501|880|hex={{party color|National League for Democracy}}}}
| —
| —
| {{increase}} 25
| 
|-

|}

==Women's Committee==
NLD Women's Committee ({{langx|my|အမျိုးသားဒီမိုကရေစီအဖွဲ့ချုပ် အမျိုးသမီး ကော်မတီ}}) is the committee of NLD women and provided legal and social assistance to women in need. Women's Work Committees have been formed at all administrative levels, including region and state, ward, and village. The chairman of the Central Women's Committee is [[May Win Myint]]<ref name="a">{{cite web|url=https://www.moi.gov.mm/moi:eng/?q=news/1/07/2018/id-14061|title=NLD holds first Nationwide Women's Work Committees Congress in Nay Pyi Taw|access-date=28 August 2018|language=en|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922165452/https://www.moi.gov.mm/moi:eng/?q=news/1/07/2018/id-14061|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Wm">{{cite web|url=https://www.mizzima.com/news-domestic/women%E2%80%99s-work-committees%E2%80%99-congress-recommends-no-discussion-role-military-politics|title=Women's Work Committees' Congress recommends no discussion on role of military in politics|work=Mizzima Myanmar News and Insight |access-date=28 August 2018|language=en|archive-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816033927/http://www.mizzima.com/news-domestic/women%E2%80%99s-work-committees%E2%80%99-congress-recommends-no-discussion-role-military-politics|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CWC">{{cite web|url=https://nld-official.org/en/central-women-committee/|title=NLD Women's Committees|work=NLD |access-date=28 August 2018|language=en|archive-date=28 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828134613/https://nld-official.org/en/central-women-committee/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
!No
!Name
!Duties
|-
|1.
|[[May Win Myint]]
|Chairperson
|-
|2.
|[[Zin Mar Aung]]
|Secretary
|-
|3.
|Khin Khin Phyu
|Member
|-
|4.
|Shwe Pone
|Member
|-
|5.
|Lat Lat
|Member
|-
|6.
|Thet Htar Nwe
|Member
|-
|7.
|Thandar
|Member
|-
|8.
|Than Than Aye
|Member
|-
|9.
|Aye Aye Mar
|Member
|-
|10.
|Aye Mu (or) Shar Mee
|Member
|}

==See also==
* {{portal-inline|Myanmar}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* Houtman, Gustaaf. Daigaku, Tōkyō Gaikokugo. Kenkyūjo, Ajia Afurika Gengo Bunka. ''Mental culture in Burmese crisis politics: Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy.'' ILCAA, 1999. {{ISBN|978-4-87297-748-6}}.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links}}
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20180404232047/http://nld-official.org/ Official website of the National League for Democracy Party]}} {{In lang|my|en}}
*[http://www.statecounsellor.gov.mm/en/ Official website of Aung San Su Kyi]
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120119101513/http://www.nldla.net/ National League for Democracy (Liberated Area)]}} ''(Archived from [http://www.nldla.net/ the original] on 19 January 2012)''
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130618045918/http://www.nldburma.org/ National League for Democracy (Burma)]}} ''(Archived from [http://www.nldburma.org/ the original] on 18 June 2013)''
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110125034340/http://www.dassk.org/ Aung San Suu Kyi's pages]}} (Inactive website. No new activity since July 2014.)
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150909080518/http://ncgub.net/ The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma Website]}}

{{Burmese political parties}}
{{Interlib}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:National League For Democracy}}
[[Category:1988 establishments in Burma]]
[[Category:2023 disestablishments in Myanmar]]
[[Category:Aung San Suu Kyi]]
[[Category:Banned political parties]]
[[Category:Burmese democracy movements]]
[[Category:Centrist parties in Asia]]
[[Category:Internal conflict in Myanmar]]
[[Category:Liberal conservative parties]]
[[Category:Liberal parties in Myanmar]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1988]]
[[Category:Political parties disestablished in 2023]]
[[Category:Political parties in Myanmar]]
[[Category:Populist parties]]
[[Category:Social liberal parties]]