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POLLING stations opened across Myanmar on Sunday for the concluding phase of a general election overshadowed by civil war, international condemnation, and an ongoing military grip on political power.
Reuters cited the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is widely expected to secure victory, with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing likely to assume a formal political role once the new government is installed, possibly in April.
The election, conducted in three phases on December 28, January 11, and January 25, has been marked by voter turnout of around 55 per cent, well below the roughly 70 per cent recorded in Myanmar’s 2015 and 2020 general elections.
Voters in 60 townships, including major cities Yangon and Mandalay, cast ballots amid persistent conflict triggered by the February 2021 coup that removed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from power.
The 80-year-old opposition leader remains detained, and her National League for Democracy has been dissolved, leaving the political field heavily skewed towards the USDP, which is chaired by a retired brigadier general and populated by former senior military officers.
Malaysia, which last year chaired the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, confirmed that ASEAN had rejected Myanmar’s offer to send poll observers and would not endorse the election.
Kaho Yu, Principal Asia Analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft, said: “Rather than resolving a crisis now in its fifth year, the vote is more likely to reinforce the military's hold on power, with little prospect of restoring domestic legitimacy or improving the country's standing with Western partners.”
Fighting has continued throughout the election campaign, with air strikes targeting civilian areas in the border states of Rakhine, Shan, and Kayin.
Despite these conditions, the USDP has already secured 193 out of 209 lower house seats and 52 out of 78 upper house seats, according to the election commission, leaving it in a dominant position.
The Junta has insisted the election is free from coercion and enjoys public support, while residents of Myanmar’s largest cities report an atmosphere of fear, with many feeling compelled to vote to avoid arrest or reprisal.
Over 400 individuals have been charged under election protection laws for criticising or obstructing the voting process, according to state media.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, 69, (pic) has indicated he may appoint a successor as armed forces chief and transition fully into a political role. He reaffirmed the military’s enduring influence, stating:
“Regardless of how successive governments may change over time, Tatmadaw remains a steadfast institution that will continue to shoulder the responsibilities of national defence and security.”
Despite widespread denunciation from the United Nations, Western governments, and rights groups, the military has hailed the election as a success, projecting it as a mandate for continued leadership even as Myanmar faces deepening conflict, political suppression, and international isolation. - January 25, 2026