Myanmar’s First Election Since Military Seized Power

The 2025–26 Myanmar general election has become a contested battleground for legitimacy and control, drawing widespread international condemnation and fueling concerns over the country’s democratic decline. The first phase of the vote, which concluded on December 28, 2025, has been heavily criticized as a sham, primarily due to the military junta’s overarching control, the exclusion of major opposition parties, and structural changes like proportional representation that overtly favor the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). This electoral process, which reserves 25% of seats for the military, is designed to maintain the junta’s dominance amidst an ongoing civil war and international scrutiny.

Story Highlights

The first phase of Myanmar’s elections has faced widespread criticism due to military control and the exclusion of opposition parties.
Proportional representation changes favor the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
With 25% of seats reserved for the military, the election process is skewed to maintain junta dominance.
International observers and media highlight the lack of credibility and fairness in the electoral process.

Military Influence Dominates Elections

The first phase of Myanmar’s 2025–26 general election concluded on December 28, 2025, across 102 townships. However, this election has been widely condemned as a sham due to the military junta’s control. The exclusion of major opposition parties and structural biases favoring military proxies have led to widespread international and domestic criticism. The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), seen as a military proxy, stands to benefit from the new electoral laws and reserved seats, despite its previous underperformance.

Historical context reveals that Myanmar’s military, known as the Tatmadaw, seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021. This coup ousted the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, which had won a credible election in 2020. The junta’s new electoral laws, enacted in January 2023, have tightened party registration and banned key opposition figures, ensuring a playing field tilted in favor of the USDP. This shift to proportional representation further entrenches military power.

Myanmar holds first election since military seized power but critics say the vote is a sham#Myanmar #election https://t.co/891Ve3XDXJ pic.twitter.com/Dq2ibVh8fy

— New Delhi Times (@NewDelhiTimes) December 29, 2025

Key Stakeholders and Their Roles

Min Aung Hlaing, the junta leader, and the State Administration Council chair, plays a critical role in overseeing the elections’ timing and issuing pardons to present a facade of fairness. The Union Election Commission (UEC), appointed by the junta, orchestrates the election phases. The USDP, as the military’s favored party, seeks to legitimize the junta’s rule. Meanwhile, the dissolved NLD and other opposition groups continue to boycott the elections, rejecting their legitimacy.

Power dynamics heavily favor the military, with 25% of seats reserved for them, enabling governance with just over a third of the popular vote. This strategic advantage ensures the military’s grip on power, even amid international scrutiny and internal dissent.
Voters in Myanmar on December 28 participated in the first phase of the country’s first general election in five years

Implications of the Election Process

The immediate implications of these elections include legitimizing the junta’s rule through potential USDP gains. However, the boycotts and exclusions by major opposition parties undermine the election’s credibility. In the long term, the military’s control over the legislative process through reserved seats and proportional representation may prolong the civil war by marginalizing opposition voices.

Voter disenfranchisement is a significant issue, especially in conflict zones where entire townships are excluded from voting. The pardons issued by the junta, while freeing some individuals, also signal ongoing repression. Politically, these elections threaten to weaken Myanmar’s democratic framework, with economic instability likely to follow due to ongoing conflicts and international sanctions.