What's happened
Myanmar's military government has conducted a three-phase election since December 28, with partial results showing the military-backed USDP winning most contested seats. Critics say the election lacks legitimacy due to exclusion of major parties and repression, amid ongoing civil war and international criticism.
What's behind the headline?
The Myanmar election underscores the military's attempt to consolidate power amid ongoing civil war. The partial results favor the USDP, a party closely aligned with the military, which has won the majority of contested seats. Critics argue the election is a facade, designed to legitimize a regime that remains internationally isolated. The low turnout and exclusion of major parties, including the dissolved NLD, highlight the lack of genuine democratic process. The military's strategy appears to be to establish a controlled political framework while suppressing dissent. The upcoming phases will determine whether the military can solidify its authority or face continued resistance. International recognition remains unlikely, and the election's legitimacy is questioned globally, which could impact Myanmar's future stability and relations.
What the papers say
AP News reports that the military claims over 52% voter turnout and highlights USDP's victories, emphasizing the party's dominance in the first phase. The Independent echoes concerns about the election's fairness, noting the exclusion of major parties like the NLD and the ongoing civil war. Reuters provides a critical perspective, describing the election as a military-led effort with limited legitimacy, citing low turnout and partial results. All sources agree that the election is a strategic move by the military to reinforce control, but face widespread skepticism about its fairness and long-term stability implications.
How we got here
Myanmar's military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, leading to widespread protests and civil conflict. The current election is the first since 2020, but is boycotted by many opposition groups and criticized for lacking fairness. The military aims to legitimize its rule through this process, despite ongoing unrest.
Go deeper
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Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has a population...
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The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP; Burmese: ပြည်ထောင်စုကြံ့ခိုင်ရေးနှင့် ဖွံ့ဖြိုးရေးပါတီ, romanized: pyihtaunghcukyaanhkinerayynhang hpwanhpyaoerayypar
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Aung San Suu Kyi is a Burmese politician, diplomat, author, and a 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The first and incumbent State Counsellor of Myanmar, she is also the leader of the National League for Democracy and played a vital role in the state's tran