U Tin Aye said that according to the 2008 Constitution, parliament has a term of five years from the day of its first session. The first session of the current parliament, the first Hluttaw, was held on 31st January, 2011, so the term will expire on 31st January, 2016. General elections must therefore be held in 2015 to form the second Hluttaw, he said.

U Tin Aye was speaking in response to media questions after the third workshop on seeking cooperation between the Union Election Commission and civil society organizations held at the MiCasa Hotel in Yangon on 20th October.

“The elections must be held in the last week of November or in December. The 2015 general elections will not be postponed,” said the commission chairman, noting that the first session of the second term of the Hluttaw must be held within 90 days of the general election.

On 1st October, President U Thein Sein delivered a radio message that only when the nationwide ceasefire agreement is concluded successfully can the government start political dialogue to shape the country’s future. This dialogue will ensure stability, the successful holding of the 2015 general elections, and the smooth continuation of the political reforms, he said.

In response to the questions about the President’s speech, U Tin Aye said: “Elections are held by the commission. Therefore, the decision of the commission will be final. According to the constitution, the elections cannot be postponed. The commission also cannot postpone the elections.”

U Tin Aye promised civil society organizations that they will hold free and fair elections in 2015. And he said that the commission will let local and international organizations monitor the whole electoral process including the compiling of lists of eligible voters and monitoring polling stations throughout the elections.

On 21st October