Myanmar’s historic general elections are set for November 8, an official from the country’s election commission said Wednesday. Tin Tun, director general of the Union Election Commission, confirmed the date in an interview. The commission had previously said that the election would happen sometime in October or November. Mr. Tin Tun added that the commission will publicly announce the date on Wednesday evening. The landmark vote, which will be the first under Myanmar’s reformist government, is expected to be the freest and fairest in over two decades. Myanmar was ruled by a military junta for over six decades, which made way for a government that was nominally civilian after elections in 2010.
More than 70 parties, including the opposition National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, are expected to participate. Though Ms. Suu Kyi had previously indicated that her party might boycott the vote over concerns that it won’t be fair, Win Htein, a central executive committee party member of the NLD, said that the party was in the process of preparing an election manifesto and selecting suitable candidates.
She had to say that, because we had concerns that it would not be free and fair,” he added. “But we are a big party, and we are prepared to participate and win the elections.”
Full Article: Myanmar Election Commission Sets Date for General Elections – WSJ.
