The ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party of Myanmar on Monday conceded defeat to Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition party. The National League for Democracy has won 16 of the first 17 seats announced so far in the first free national elections in 25 years in Myanmar, reported The Guardian. There are 498 seats in the upper and lower houses of the Myanmar’s parliament.

Suu Kyi has been barred from holding the post of president due to a constitutional technicality, but she has vowed to run the country from behind the scenes. The constitution, which was framed by the country's military junta, prevents any candidate with a foreign spouse or children from holding the top post. Suu Kyi’s late husband was of English descent and their two sons hold British citizenship.