Myanmar's dominant pro-military party has declared an overwhelming victory in the initial stage of the country's elections, according to a senior party official. This announcement comes after democracy watchdogs warned that the junta-run poll is designed to solidify military control.
First Phase Results and Claims
A senior member of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) informed AFP that the party secured a decisive win. The official stated the USDP won 82 out of 102 lower house seats in townships where counting has concluded. This figure suggests the party, widely seen as a civilian proxy for the military, captured more than 80 percent of the contested seats in Sunday's voting.
The official, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization, added that the party swept all eight townships in the capital, Naypyidaw. These results mark a stark reversal from the 2020 election, where the USDP was soundly defeated by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD). The NLD was dissolved after the 2021 coup and was absent from Sunday's ballot.
Widespread Condemnation and Credibility Concerns
The election has faced intense criticism from campaigners, Western diplomats, and the UN's rights chief. They point to a severe crackdown on dissent and a candidate list heavily favoring military allies. Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi remains detained since the putsch, which also ignited a brutal civil war.
Analysts echo these concerns about the poll's legitimacy. "The election is not credible," said Morgan Michaels, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He explained to AFP that the process is rigged in advance by banning opposition parties and using coercion to influence voter turnout and choice.
This sentiment is shared by many citizens within Myanmar. "My view on the election is clear: I don't trust it at all," said Yangon resident Min Khant, 28, on Monday. He described life under a dictatorship and expressed skepticism that anything positive could result from the junta-organized vote.
Junta's Guarantee and Ongoing Conflict
Despite the outcry, military chief Min Aung Hlaing, who has ruled by decree since the coup, insisted the armed forces can be trusted to return power to a civilian-led government. After voting on Sunday, he told reporters in Naypyidaw, "We guarantee it to be a free and fair election. It's organized by the military, we can't let our name be tarnished."
The ongoing civil war, however, casts a long shadow over the electoral process. Pro-democracy activists and ethnic minority armies continue to resist central rule. The military itself has acknowledged that elections cannot be held in nearly one-fifth of lower house constituencies due to the conflict.
Sunday's phase covered voting in 102 of the country's 330 townships, the largest of the three scheduled rounds. The Union Election Commission has yet to post official results, with two more phases set for January 11 and 25.
