Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Burma's general election: Everything you need to know

This weekend, Burma will hold one of its most significant elections in recent history.

Peter Popham
Wednesday 04 November 2015 07:13 EST
Comments
Burma's 2015 general election: All you need to know

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Burma is due to stage its most important general election for decades on Sunday.

More than 93 parties are competing, with 10,500 observers monitoring its fairness.

For Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi - who spent 15 years under house arrest but who has been an MP since 2012 - it could be the best chance she ever gets of leading her party, the National League for Democracy, to power.

Running against the NLD is the ruling Union Solidarity and Development party. Created by the military junta, it won the 2010 general election when Ms Suu Kyi was still in detention, but many accused it of rigging that poll, and even some of its senior members predict it is heading for defeat on Sunday.

But the influence of the military will remain because it is guaranteed 25 per cent of seats in Parliament, and controls three key ministries. Whoever wins the election will have to deal with that legacy.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in