Myanmar's military-backed political party has taken a commanding lead following the initial phase of a contentious general election, the first vote held since the armed forces seized power in a 2021 coup.
Early Results Show Expected USDP Dominance
Partial results released by the state-controlled Union Election Commission (UEC) for 56 constituencies show the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), led by retired generals, winning by a wide margin. The junta has stated that the three-phase election process is intended to bring political stability to the conflict-ridden nation.
The published figures from Friday reveal the USDP secured 38 of the 40 seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw, or lower house, where counting has been completed. Among the diminished field of competitors approved by the military, the USDP also won 14 of the 15 regional or State Hluttaw seats tallied.
Criticism and Low Voter Participation
The election has been widely condemned by the United Nations, several Western nations, and human rights groups. Major pro-democracy parties, including Aung San Suu Kyi's dissolved National League for Democracy (NLD), are barred from participating, and it is illegal to criticise the polls.
Voter turnout appears significantly lower than in previous elections. The ruling junta reported that 52% of eligible voters cast ballots in this first phase. This contrasts sharply with turnouts of approximately 70% recorded in the 2015 and 2020 general elections, according to data from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate whose party won a landslide victory in 2020 before being ousted, remains in detention. Her party has since been dissolved by the military authorities.
Future Rounds and Broader Implications
Two further rounds of voting are scheduled for 11 January and 25 January. These will cover 265 of Myanmar's 330 townships, many of which are areas where the junta does not maintain full control due to ongoing armed resistance.
Analysts suggest the military's attempt to establish a legitimate, civilian-veiled government amidst a brutal civil war is fraught with risk. They also indicate that broad international recognition for any administration born from this process is highly unlikely.
No date has been set for the announcement of the election's final results. The election commission has opted to release results incrementally, without disclosing the total number of constituencies involved in the initial phase.
