Election Day Ends Amidst Chaos: Myanmar's Controversial Vote Faces Widespread Rejection

Mon Dec 29 2025 10:49:54 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Myanmar wraps up the first phase of its disputed elections, reports of violence and criticism from global observers highlight the turmoil facing the nation. Major opposition parties remain banned, while many citizens express skepticism about the junta's claims of a legitimate democratic process.

On the first day of Myanmar's election, dubbed a 'sham' by critics, significant violence marred the voting process, with reports of air strikes and explosions. The military-led government is facing backlash as major political figures remain imprisoned and widespread civil unrest disrupts the supposed democratic proceedings. Many voters remain skeptical, pointing to the election's illegitimacy while the junta insists on its commitment to democracy.

The first of three phases of voting has finished in Myanmar, in an election widely dismissed as a sham, with major political parties dissolved, leaders jailed, and as much as half the country not expected to vote due to an ongoing civil war.

The military government is holding a phased ballot nearly five years after it seized power in a coup, prompting widespread opposition and spiraling into civil war.

Observers say the junta, with China's support, is seeking to legitimize its power as it seeks a way out of the devastating stalemate.

More than 200 people have been charged for disrupting or opposing the polls under a new law which carries severe punishments, including the death penalty.

There were reports of explosions and air strikes across multiple regions as the first round of voting took place on Sunday. A rocket attack on an uninhabited house in the Mandalay region injured three people.

Voters reported feeling a sense of discipline in the election process, yet many expressed skepticism about its legitimacy. Despite the military's insistence on returning to a democratic system, international observers and local citizens maintain that the elections lack validity due to ongoing civil conflict and the suppression of key political players.

The Burmese junta has rejected criticism of the polls, maintaining that it aims to return [the country] to a multi-party democratic system. However, the situation on the ground speaks to a more troubling reality, where dissent is criminalized and violence remains rampant, further complicating the road toward true democratic governance.