Naypyidaw, December 28, 2025 –
Polling stations opened today across parts of Myanmar for the first phase of a multi-stage general election organized by the military junta, nearly five years after it seized power in a 2021 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and sparked a devastating civil war.
The vote, overseen by the junta-appointed Union Election Commission, is being held in phases due to ongoing conflict: the initial round today covers 102 townships, followed by January 11 in 100 townships and January 25 in 63 others. Voting has been canceled in at least 65 of the country’s 330 townships controlled by ethnic armed groups or opposition forces, with elections limited to areas under military control—estimated to cover less than half the nation’s territory.
Critics, including the United Nations, Western governments, and human rights organizations, have widely condemned the process as a “sham” designed to legitimize continued military rule through proxies. UN Secretary-General António Guterres questioned the possibility of free and fair elections given the conflict and human rights record of the junta, while UN human rights experts and the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar have described it as illegitimate amid widespread repression, political imprisonments, and violence.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), which won landslides in 2015 and 2020, remains dissolved, and its leaders, including Suu Kyi, are detained. Opposition parties face severe restrictions, with many candidates disqualified and a new Election Protection Law criminalizing criticism of the process—punishable by lengthy prison terms or even death in some cases. Reports indicate arrests for social media posts questioning the vote.
The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), led by former generals, is fielding the most candidates and is widely expected to dominate. Junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has framed the election as a step toward multiparty democracy, insisting it is for the people of Myanmar despite international skepticism.
China, Russia, and to a lesser extent India have expressed support for the process, viewing it as a potential path to stability amid threats to regional interests. However, most Western nations and ASEAN members have declined to send observers.
The civil war continues unabated, with intensified airstrikes, civilian casualties, and millions displaced. Residents in voting areas report subdued campaigns marked by fear rather than enthusiasm, contrasting with past elections.
As results from today’s phase are tallied, analysts warn the polls risk deepening instability rather than resolving Myanmar’s profound political and humanitarian crisis.
Myanmar’s Controversial Polls Kick Off: Phased Elections Begin Amid Civil War, Denounced as ‘Sham’ by UN
