Myanma general election, 2015
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Myanmar |
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General elections will be held in Myanmar on 8 November 2015.[2][3] It will see voting take place in all constituencies, excluding seats appointed by the Military, in order to appoint Members of Assembly to seats in the House of Nationalities, the upper house, House of Representatives, the lower house of the Assembly of the Union, and State and Region Hluttaws.
Preparation[edit]
The ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party have started rolling out strategies for their campaign. The USDP have confirmed it will contest its winning constituencies from 2010.[4] The opposition National League for Democracy party confirmed that it will contest even if a constitutional measure barring Aung San Suu Kyi from running for president is not amended.[5]
National Unity Party confirmed it was also reviewing its winning seats from 2010 and was considering other constituencies to challenge. The National Democratic Force said the party is prepared to challenge in up to 200 constituencies, but was yet to determine its candidates. Ethnic political groups will contest in each state based on ethnic party strongholds, although some have indicated they would consider forming an alliance as the Federal Union Party.
Now, 91 political parties are registered to take part in 2015.
In July 2015, Myanmar’s Union Election Commission (UEC) designated the number of constituencies for running the upcoming 2015 general election of four levels of parliament representatives: 330 constituencies are set for elections to the House of Representatives (lower house of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw), 168 constituencies for the House of Nationalities (Amyotha Hluttaw or upper house of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw), 644 constituencies for regional or state parliaments and 29 constituencies for regional or state parliaments for national races. The UEC also issued procedures for international observers to follow in monitoring the country’s upcoming 2015 general election preliminarily scheduled for the end of October or the beginning of November.[6]
Cancellation of by-elections[edit]
By-elections had been scheduled to be held in November or December 2014, to elect members for six seats in the House of Nationalities, 13 in the House of Representatives, and 11 in state and regional legislatures. The seat vacancies were primarily the result of their former holders’ moves to ministerial posts or departmental positions within government, but also included some other constituencies’ representatives who have died.[7][8][9][10] The by-elections were expected to indicate the relative strengths of the contending parties, including President Thein Sein’s Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party led by Aung San Suu Kyi.[8]
On 7 September 2014, the Union Election Commission cancelled the by-election because the period for campaigning would take place too close to that of the general elections in 2015 and because the results would therefore not have had any political significance.[11][12]
Possible candidates[edit]
President Thein Sein is front runner to continue as President after the election. Commander-in-Chief of the Military Min Aung Hlaing is close to retirement and is another favourite for the Presidency, but may assume the role after a transitional period headed by another ex-military figure. Aung San Suu Kyi has reiterated her desire to become the next president but constitutional changes need to take place before she would be allowed to run.[13] However, Parliament voted against most constitutional amendments on 25 June 2015 meaning that Aung San Suu Kyi cannot become president in the election.[14] Shwe Mann, the former No. 3 in the junta who is now speaker of House of Representatives, considered reform-minded, was the most likely figure to take the mantle from Thein Sein until he was removed from his position within the party on 12 August 2015.[15] [16]
References[edit]
- ^ "Election official tells BBC".
- ^ "Myanmar General Elections Scheduled in Late 2015: Election Official".
- ^ "General Election will be Nov- Dec 2015, says EC chairman". DVB News. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
- ^ "Political parties gear up for 2015 election". Mizzima.com. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- ^ "Suu Kyi's party says it will contest 2015 Myanmar election even if constitution is not amended". Star Tribune. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- ^ "#MyanmarElections2015: UEC issues procedures for international observers". MyanmarBusinessNews.com. 4 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
- ^ "Official Confirms Burma By-Elections Due This Year". Irrawaddy.org. 2014-03-21. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
- ^ a b "Myanmar to Hold By-Elections at End of Year". Rfa.org. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
- ^ "General Election will be Nov- Dec 2015, says EC chairman | DVB Multimedia Group". Dvb.no. 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
- ^ "Burma plans by-elections for 28 seats this year". Asian Correspondent. 2014-03-21. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
- ^ Aung Hla Tun (7 September 2014). "Myanmar cancels by-elections". The Reuters. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
- ^ "By-elections cancelled". DVB News. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
- ^ "Aung San Suu Kyi: 'I want to be Burma's president'". BBC. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- ^ "Myanmar's parliament blocks changes to constitution - US News". US News & World Report.
- ^ Krause, Flavia (3 May 2012). "Myanmar's Leader May Step Aside After 2015 Elections, Aide Says". Bloomberg. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- ^ Campbell, Charlie (13 August 2015). "Burmese President Purges Party Chief". Time.
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