Myanmar military leader says elections will be in 2 years

Six months after seizing power from the elected government, Myanmar’s military leader has repeated his pledge to hold fresh elections in two years and cooperate with Southeast Asian nations on finding a political solution for his country

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar -- Six months after seizing power from the elected government, Myanmar’s military leader on Sunday repeated his pledge to hold fresh elections in two years and cooperate with Southeast Asian nations on finding a political solution for his country. “We must create conditions to hold a free and fair multiparty general election," Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said during a recorded televised address. "We have to make preparations. I pledge to hold the multiparty general election without fail.” The military authorities would “accomplish the provisions of the state of emergency by August 2023,” he said. The state of emergency was declared when troops moved against the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, an action the generals said was permitted under the military-authored 2008 constitution. The military claimed her landslide victory in last year’s national elections was achieved through massive voter fraud but it has produced no credible evidence.