Myanmar Concludes "Half-Election" Excluding Opposition... Pro-Military Parties Win Landslide Victory

As Myanmar's military regime proceeded with a "half-election" excluding opposition parties, the final third round of voting concluded on January 25 (local time). Since the military-backed parties already achieved a landslide victory in the first and second rounds, the likelihood has increased that the military regime will continue its rule under the guise of a civilian government.

Yonhap News Agency

According to major foreign media outlets including the Associated Press on January 25, the final round of voting ended around 4 p.m. in 61 of Myanmar's 330 administrative districts. The first and second rounds of voting had already taken place in 202 districts on December 28 and January 11, respectively. With the completion of the third round on this day, the general election has concluded. In 67 districts controlled by rebel forces, voting did not take place due to the ongoing civil war.

According to the Union Election Commission (UEC) of Myanmar, in the first and second rounds of voting, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) secured 233 seats in both houses. When combined with the 166 seats allocated to the military, the total reaches 399 seats, far exceeding the 294 seats required to govern.

The remaining 17 parties, including the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) and the Mon Unity Party (MUP), each secured only 1 to 10 seats in the first and second rounds. The previously ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) was dissolved and could not participate in this election. Only six pro-military parties, including the USDP, fielded candidates nationwide.

The Myanmar opposition and the international community have strongly criticized this general election as a "half-election." The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has also stated that it will not recognize the results of Myanmar's general election.

Within 60 days after the general election, Myanmar is scheduled to elect a president through an indirect parliamentary vote. With the USDP securing a majority in both houses, it is highly likely that the party will produce the next president. Foreign media outlets report that the current military leader, Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, is expected to become president.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.