Myanmar’s “Covid election” has dominated the local psyche for more than a month now. The coronavirus crisis changed the nature of campaigning for the Nov 8 polls, severely affected the voting process and delayed the second stage of the government’s pandemic recovery plans. While everyone was preoccupied with the polls, the country was virtually on hold.
The overwhelming victory of the governing National League for Democracy (NLD) — led by Aung San Suu Kyi — heralds a new era of reform and recovery. The NLD now has a reinforced political mandate and a strengthened moral authority to press on with its plans for national reconciliation, including constitutional reform, sustained growth and inclusive development, according to analysts and commentators.
But the shadow of the pandemic still hangs over the country and dominates all political and economic…
