Critics, together with human rights staff and opposition teams, say the election is neither free nor honest.
Printed On 17 Jan 2026
Myanmar’s military-backed political get together has prolonged its lead after the second spherical of voting, based on official figures from the nation’s election physique, and the nation now heads into the ultimate section of its three-stage general election amid widespread battle.
The most recent knowledge printed on Friday signifies that the Union Solidarity and Improvement Celebration (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 keeping with 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 section of voting held on Sunday. The third and closing 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 conflict.
The election is being held in three phases as a result 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 should not collaborating due to preventing in these areas.
Remaining outcomes for all seats in each nationwide and regional legislatures are anticipated to be introduced by late January.
Main-Normal Zaw Min Tun, the navy’s spokesperson, mentioned final weekend that the 2 homes of parliament will probably be convened in March, with a brand new authorities taking over its duties in April.
Throughout 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 mentioned.
The election additionally comes because the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) is at the moment holding hearings in a case brought by The Gambia, accusing Myanmar of committing genocide towards its Rohingya neighborhood.
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.
Considered one of them, the Folks’s Pioneer Celebration, 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 Legislation 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.
