A bill that sought to remove Myanmar army's veto over constitutional change has failed to get a nod from the parliament, crushing hopes for fuller democracy.
The proposal received the approval of a majority of MPs but failed to gain the 75 percent votes needed to pass, reported the BBC.
The decision means that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will not be able to seek presidency this year.
She was barred from running for president as her two sons hold British not Burmese passports. An amendment to the constitution would have changed the part that affected her status.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party was expected to make large gains against the ruling party in an election likely to take place in the autumn.