Thura U Shwe Mann has announced that he is forming a new political party that intends to “work with the people”. The official name of the new party will be the Union Betterment Party. It plans to build a federal union and develop the economy. It will also focus on health, education, culture, rule of law and peace, and develop a constitution that is “suitable” for Myanmar, according to Shwe Mann’s Facebook page. The former speaker of the lower house was ousted from the USDP (Union Solidarity and Development Party) months before the 2015 general election. He ran as an independent candidate in the 2015 election but could not gain a seat in parliament. Shwe Mann has worked closely with the National League for Democracy administration and has been appointed as chairman of the Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission. It is not clear if his new party will seek an alliance with the NLD.