Myanmar's Controversial Elections: Military Party Poised for Dominance

Mon Feb 02 2026 20:28:22 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Myanmar's third and final stage of elections ends, the military-backed party is predicted to secure a vast majority amidst widespread criticism of electoral legitimacy. The ongoing civil war complicates the political landscape, leaving fear and uncertainty among voters.

Polls in Myanmar have closed after elections that many consider to be illegitimate, with a military-backed party expected to emerge victorious. Critics highlight the absence of various political parties and ongoing civil unrest as significant factors undermining the credibility of the election process, raising concerns about the future of democracy in the nation.

Polls in Myanmar have closed after a third and final stage of voting in what are widely viewed as sham elections. Many popular parties are banned from standing and voting has not been possible in large areas of the country because of a five-year-long civil war.

The dominant party backed by the ruling military junta is expected to win a landslide victory. The current regime has rejected international criticism of the election, maintaining that it is free and fair.

Around one-fifth of the country's 330 townships, including the cities of Yangon and Mandalay, voted in the last stage. Six parties, including the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), fielded candidates nationwide, while another 51 parties and independent candidates contested state and regional levels. Two previous rounds were held on December 28 and January 11, giving overwhelming victories to the USDP, which previously won only 6% of parliamentary seats in the last free election in 2020.

Despite appearances of order and peace in some polling stations, a pervasive climate of fear, intimidation, and absence of dialogue characterized the electoral environment. The military coup in 2021 ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government, leading to ongoing military conflict with both armed resistance groups and ethnic militias. Thousands have died, and millions have been displaced as the humanitarian crisis deepens.

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