Myanmar’s Military Set to Retain Power After Final Election Phase
Myanmar concludes controversial three-stage election with army-backed party already securing parliamentary majority.
Myanmar began the final phase of its staggered general election on Sunday, with voting taking place in 61 townships across six regions and three states. The multi-phase process, stretched over nearly a month due to ongoing civil conflict, has already guaranteed that the military and its allies will maintain firm control of the national legislature and form the next government.
The army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) dominated the first two rounds held on December 28 and January 11, winning 233 seats in the combined upper and lower houses. With 25% of parliamentary seats (166) automatically reserved for the military, the combined bloc already exceeds the 294 seats needed for a majority. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, leader of the 2021 coup, is widely expected to assume the presidency when the new Parliament convenes in March.
Critics, including opposition groups and international observers, have dismissed the polls as a sham designed to legitimise military rule following the ouster of Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in February 2021. The election process excluded more than one-fifth of townships due to fighting, barred Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (dissolved in 2023), and imposed severe restrictions on criticism under a new Election Protection Law that led to over 400 arrests.
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ASEAN has refused to send observers or recognise the results, with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan citing the lack of inclusive and free participation. Observers came instead from countries including China, Russia, Belarus, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, and Japan.
Armed opposition groups disrupted earlier rounds with attacks on polling stations, and turnout in the first phases hovered between 50-60%. Final results are expected later this week, with the new government scheduled to take office in April amid Myanmar’s continuing civil war.
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