December 27, 2025 | 07:08 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Myanmar’s military government has scheduled the third and final phase of its general election for January 25, 2026, the junta announced on Thursday, December 25, just days before the first round of voting was due to begin.
According to a report by Channel NewsAsia (CNA), the election is being held in multiple stages under the strict control of the ruling military junta, which seized power in a coup in 2021. The first phase of voting is set for Sunday, followed by a second round on January 11.
The vote marks Myanmar’s first nationwide election in five years. However, pro-democracy groups and international observers have widely questioned its credibility, arguing that the process is unlikely to restore democratic rule or bring an end to the country’s ongoing civil conflict.
Limited Areas Covered
Myanmar’s junta-appointed Election Commission said the third phase of voting will take place in 63 of the country’s 330 townships. During the first phase, voting was held in only 102 townships.
As reported by ABC News, elections could not be conducted in around 65 townships due to ongoing fighting between the military, ethnic armed groups, and resistance forces opposed to the junta.
Widespread violence following the 2021 coup has severely disrupted electoral preparations across the country. What began as peaceful protests against military rule later escalated into armed resistance after security forces cracked down violently on demonstrators.
Coup and Opposition Suppression
The Myanmar military seized power on February 1, 2021, claiming that the 2020 general election was marred by voter list irregularities. The election had been won in a landslide by the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Independent observers, however, found no evidence of widespread fraud.
Since the coup, Aung San Suu Kyi has remained in detention, and the NLD has been dissolved. The United Nations and other international bodies have repeatedly condemned the junta for repressing political opponents and restricting political freedoms ahead of the election.
Tight Controls and Pro-Military Advantage
The junta has introduced strict regulations ahead of the vote, including laws that carry prison sentences of up to 10 years for individuals who protest or criticize the election process.
Junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has portrayed the election as a step toward restoring democracy and encouraging armed groups to pursue political solutions. However, election monitors say the process overwhelmingly favors parties aligned with the military.
Of the 57 political parties fielding candidates, most are contesting only in limited regional areas. Six parties are competing nationwide, with the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) widely seen as having the strongest position.
Around 5,000 candidates are competing for more than 1,100 seats in national and regional legislatures, though the junta has not disclosed the total number of eligible voters.
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