Myanmar says 2015 election won't be delayed

October 21, 2014

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar's government said Tuesday that a general election planned for late 2015 would be held on schedule, countering rumors that the vote could be postponed.

Tin Aye, chairman of the Myanmar Union Election Commission, made the announcement at a meeting with political party members in Yangon, Myanmar's main city. He said international and local observers would be invited to witness the election, to be held in late October or early November of next year.

The general election will be the second since former strongman Gen. Than Shwe handed power to a nominally civilian government, ending half a century of military rule. The 2010 election was widely seen as having been crafted so the military-backed government's party would win. There has been widespread speculation that the 2015 election would be delayed because the current leaders were uncertain of victory and needed more time to prepare.

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said the 2015 election should be free, fair and held on time.