Yangon: Myanmar will hold the first phase of its multi-party general elections on December 28, the Union Election Commission announced on Monday.
According to Xinhua news agency, the commission said the polls will be conducted in phases in line with the constitution and relevant laws, with dates for subsequent rounds to be announced later.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing had earlier indicated that elections would take place between December this year and January 2025.
Last month, the National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) restructured the government by appointing U Nyo Saw as Prime Minister and forming a new State Security and Peace Commission chaired by Min Aung Hlaing. It also annulled the order that had transferred sovereign power to the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services and decided to end the state of emergency to facilitate elections.
Myanmar had been under a state of emergency since February 2021, when then Acting President U Myint Swe handed power to the military following a coup. The emergency, initially declared for one year, had been repeatedly extended for six-month periods until July 31 this year.
Meanwhile, the country is also pushing ahead with its Myanmar Digital Economy Roadmap 2030. At a coordination meeting of the Digital Economy Development Committee (DEDC) held in Nay Pyi Taw on July 25, Union Minister for Transport and Communications General Mya Tun Oo said digital growth was crucial for national development.
Citing World Economic Forum data, he noted that the digital economy accounts for at least 15 per cent of global GDP and could rise to over 25 per cent by 2030, urging coordinated action to build Myanmar’s digital future.