Myanmar’s army rulers say polls have been free and truthful as UN experiences 170 killed in air assaults throughout election interval.
Revealed On 31 Jan 2026
Myanmar’s military-backed occasion secured a sweeping victory within the nation’s three-phase normal election, in response to state media, following the tightly managed voting held amid civil battle and widespread repression.
The ultimate of three rounds of voting final weekend wrapped up an election that started on December 28, greater than 4 years after the army seized energy in a coup that overturned the elected authorities of Aung San Suu Kyi.
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Dominating all phases of the vote, the Union Solidarity and Improvement Celebration (USDP) gained an amazing majority in Myanmar’s two legislative chambers, state media experiences.
The USDP secured 232 of the 263 seats up for grabs within the decrease home and 109 of the 157 seats introduced to this point within the higher chamber, in response to outcomes launched on Thursday and Friday.
A spokesman for the nation’s army rulers, Zaw Min Tun, mentioned Myanmar’s parliament is now anticipated to convene to elect a president in March, with a brand new authorities set to take over in April, in response to a report within the pro-military Eleven Media Group.
Myanmar, previously often known as Burma, has been in political turmoil because the 2021 coup, with the crushing of pro-democracy protests prompting a nationwide rise up. 1000’s have been killed, and about 3.6 million folks have been displaced, in response to the United Nations.
‘Vote purely out of worry’
The 11-member Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has mentioned it will not endorse Myanmar’s electoral process, and human rights teams and a few Western nations have additionally expressed considerations in regards to the credibility of the election.
The UN human rights workplace mentioned that enormous segments of the inhabitants, together with minorities comparable to ethnic Muslim-majority Rohingya, have been excluded from voting since they’ve been denied citizenship, and lots of have additionally been displaced outdoors the nation.
At the least 170 civilians have been killed in air strikes through the election interval, and about 400 folks have been arrested, in response to the UN.
“Many individuals selected both to vote or to not vote purely out of worry,” UN human rights chief Volker Turk mentioned.
Myanmar’s army rulers insist the polls have been free and truthful, and supported by the general public.
A spokesperson for america Division of State, which has muted its critiques of overseas elections within the second Trump administration, mentioned it was monitoring the scenario and “will assess the army regime’s subsequent steps”.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s Nationwide League for Democracy was dissolved together with dozens of different events, and a few others declined to participate, drawing condemnation from critics who say the method was designed to legitimise army rule.
Below Myanmar’s political system, the army can be assured 25 p.c of parliamentary seats, making certain continued management even when energy is formally transferred to a civilian-led administration.
