Myanmar Junta Boss Says Polls to be Held in December at Earliest

Myanmar’s long-promised general elections will take place in December or January next year at the earliest, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing said at a state-level meeting in Minsk, the latest effort by the military government to retain power and earn legitimacy.

Min Aung Hlaing, held talks with Belarusian officials on Friday after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this week. He invited observers from Belarus to monitor the elections, which he said would be “free and fair” and in accordance with local laws, with 53 parties having completed the registration process to vie for seats.