The military junta in Myanmar, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has announced upcoming parliamentary elections by January 2026. Critics argue that the vote will not be legitimate due to the imprisonment of popular leaders and the dissolution of their political parties. While some nations offer support for the elections, significant opposition exists from various groups within Myanmar that reject military governance.
Myanmar is set to conduct parliamentary elections by January 2026, according to the leader of the military junta, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. This announcement did not include a specific date for the election, which the military hopes will quell the widespread opposition to its authority following its seizure of power in 2021. However, critics assert that holding an election under military rule would be meaningless, especially as popular politicians remain imprisoned and their political parties banned.
The junta currently controls only about half of Myanmar due to significant losses sustained against pro-democracy and ethnic minority insurgents opposed to military governance. During a visit to Belarus, General Min Aung Hlaing stated, “The election is slated for December 2025, with the possibility of … January 2026,” according to reports from the military-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper.
Responses from opponents of military rule have not emerged immediately, but the National Unity Government, a civilian entity operating in exile, has previously dismissed the junta’s electoral plans as an attempt to enhance its legitimacy both domestically and internationally. Additionally, ethnic minority insurgent groups fighting for autonomy have also rejected the prospect of elections under military governance.
Aung San Suu Kyi, a prominent political figure and Nobel laureate, has been incarcerated since the military coup that ousted her government on February 1, 2021. Her political party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), which won the last two elections, has been dissolved by military authorities, with many of its leaders and supporters either imprisoned or forced into exile.
China, which has significant investments in Myanmar and seeks stability in the region, has expressed support for the upcoming vote and offered assistance in its organization, a sentiment echoed by several Southeast Asian nations. Min Aung Hlaing noted that 53 political parties have submitted applications to participate in the elections and extended an invitation for observation teams from Belarus to attend.
Voting is anticipated to occur in fewer than half of Myanmar’s 330 townships, with discussions indicating that the first phase of voting would see a reduced coverage compared to the last election in 2020, where voting took place in 315 townships. Following the NLD’s sweeping victory in 2020, the military claimed electoral fraud as the basis for their coup, although election organizers reported no substantial evidence of cheating. Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Belarus follows discussions in Russia with President Vladimir Putin, signifying continued international engagements by the junta.
The announcement of parliamentary elections in Myanmar by January 2026 raises significant concerns regarding the legitimacy of the electoral process under military rule. With many political leaders imprisoned and their parties banned, the elections are perceived by critics as a means for the junta to maintain power rather than a genuine democratic exercise. Continued international support, particularly from China and neighboring countries, presents a complex dynamic amidst the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, where civil and ethnic strife persist.
Original Source: www.rfa.org
