"From sophisticated Myanmar analysts to armchair pundits, commentators on Myanmar will quickly point to an ongoing three- way power struggle taking place within Myanmar?s central political structures. The principle poles of this triangle can be summarized as the executive (President Thein Sein and his close advisors), the parliament, and the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw). Within this struggle, President Thein Sein, with support from a number of key advisors, has pushed for an ambitious program of reforms and changes. His advisors have also taken the lead in moving peace talks forward with a myriad of ethnic armed groups. The profile and personalities of key advisors have had a profound impact on the reforms and peace process. At the same time, the parliament, led by Speaker Shwe Mann, has worked to develop its own role in national politics and has taken the lead around key pieces of legislature. It is important to remember that the parliament contains a multiplicity of actors, including democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, representatives of ethnic parties, a large segment of representatives from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) with its informal links to the Tatamadaw, as well as direct representation of the Tatamadaw..."