Myanmar's next general election to be held in late 2015

Myanmar's next multi-party general election will be held in late 2015, local media reported Sunday, quoting Chairman of the Union Election Commission U Tin Aye.

After a meeting with political parties over the weekend, U Tin Aye said the commission will ensure the election free and fair under a strategic plan and the election by-law is under amendment in order to prevent from repeating the weak points that the last general election in 2010 and the by-election in 2012 experienced.

He called on political parties to cooperate and work for the best for holding the election in a free and fair manner.

Citing a by-law, he warned that advance votes will be accepted only after 6 a.m. of the day of election or they will be canceled.

Myanmar held a general election on Nov. 7, 2010 producing a civilian government led by President U Thein Sein after five decades of military rule and it held a by-election on April 1, 2012, in which the opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 43 out of 45 open parliamentary seats with its chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi occupying a seat of House of Representatives (Lower House).

Meanwhile, the NLD held a regionwide constitutional public opinion polling in Yangon earlier this month, in which the majority of the people supported amendment to the existing 2008 Constitution to abide by for a free and fair 2015 general election.

The NLD said it will submit the opinions to the parliament's Constitutional Review Joint Committee by the end of December for further review.

The NLD would officially propose to the president a quartet talks with the government, parliament and military for amendment to the 2008 constitution as it is necessary for the 2015 general election.