New Delhi, March 16 -- Myanmar opened its first parliamentary session in more than five years on Monday following an election that did not include major opposition parties, ensuring that the ruling military is set to retain a firm grasp on power.

The military blocked Myanmar's last parliament from convening when it seized power from the last legitimately elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, and has governed without a legislature since then. It's touted elections held in late December and January as a step toward the return of democracy.

But the military and its allies hold nearly 90% of the seats in two-chamber parliament, while Myanmar's former ruling National League for Democracy and other major opposition parties ...