Critics, together with human rights employees and opposition teams, say the election is neither free nor honest.
Revealed On 17 Jan 2026
Myanmar’s military-backed political get together has prolonged its lead after the second spherical of voting, in response to official figures from the nation’s election physique, and the nation now heads into the ultimate part of its three-stage general election amid widespread battle.
The newest knowledge revealed on Friday signifies that the Union Solidarity and Growth Social gathering (USDP) is on monitor to win 182 seats from the mixed first and second phases of voting, greater than half of the seats within the nation’s 330-member decrease home.
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In response to figures reported by state broadcaster MRTV, citing the Union Election Fee, the USDP gained a whopping 86 of 100 seats up for grabs within the second part of voting held on Sunday. The third and last spherical of voting is scheduled for January 25.
Critics, together with human rights and opposition teams, say the polls are neither free nor honest and are an effort by the navy to legitimise its rule after seizing energy from the elected authorities of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.
The navy takeover triggered widespread opposition that has grown right into a civil warfare.
The election is being held in three phases because of armed conflicts within the nation.
The primary and second rounds befell in 202 of the nation’s complete 330 townships on December 28 and January 11. The ultimate spherical will happen in additional townships, however 65 others will not be taking part due to preventing in these areas.
Last outcomes for all seats in each nationwide and regional legislatures are anticipated to be introduced by late January.
Main-Common Zaw Min Tun, the navy’s spokesperson, stated final weekend that the 2 homes of parliament can be convened in March, with a brand new authorities taking on its duties in April.
Through the first two rounds of voting, armed teams opposing the military carried out assaults towards polling stations and authorities buildings in lots of townships, the navy authorities stated.
The election additionally comes because the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) is at present holding hearings in a case brought by The Gambia, accusing Myanmar of committing genocide towards its Rohingya group.
Whereas greater than 4,800 candidates from 57 political events are competing for seats in nationwide and regional legislatures, solely six events are contesting seats nationwide.
Certainly one of them, the Folks’s Pioneer Social gathering, is dealing with a pending authorized case that would end in its dissolution after its chairwoman, Thet Thet Khine, and one other senior get together member had been scrutinised by authorities for holding a gathering with representatives of a international embassy in Yangon, the nation’s largest metropolis, with out prior approval from the election fee.
A brand new Election Safety Regulation imposes harsh penalties for many public criticism of the polls, with the authorities charging greater than 330 individuals just lately for leafleting or on-line exercise.
