Myanmar elections: USDP ruling party chairman concedes defeat.

(Baonghean.vn) - On November 9th, Htay Oo, chairman of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), acknowledged defeat in the general election held on November 8th and stated that he would accept the results of the country's first free national election in 25 years.

People in Myanmar line up to vote in the country's free elections on November 8. Photo: Reuters

In an interview with Reuters, Htay Oo said: "We have truly failed... We have to find out why we failed. However, there is no definitive final conclusion yet."

The vote counting is still underway and no official results have been announced yet; however, according to preliminary reports from across the country, the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party of Aung San Suu Kyi is holding a significant advantage.

Htay Oo said he was surprised by the ruling USDP party's defeat in the Hinthada constituency in Ayeyawaddy. "I didn't think that would happen, because we've solved many problems for the people in this area. But anyway, it's the people's decision," he said.

According to Xinhua News Agency, on November 9, Shwe Mann, Speaker of the Parliament and Chairman of the House of Representatives of Myanmar – a representative of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) who participated in the general election on November 8 – also acknowledged defeat.

Phuong Thao

(According to Reuters/THX)