Myanmar’s military-backed party claims strong lead in election’s first phase

The political party backed by Myanmar’s ruling military claimed a sweeping victory in the first phase of the country’s general elections, despite no official confirmation from election authorities. The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) asserted Tuesday it won 88 of the 102 lower house seats contested in the initial round of voting.

A senior USDP official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that the party also captured approximately 85% of contested seats in regional legislatures. The official noted that the party secured all constituencies in the capital, Naypyitaw, where numerous candidates were former military generals and many residents either serve in the armed forces or work for the government.

The election is being conducted in three phases due to widespread armed conflicts throughout the country. The first round took place Sunday in 102 of Myanmar’s 330 townships, with subsequent phases scheduled for January 11 and January 25. However, 65 townships will not participate in any phase because of ongoing fighting.

Myanmar’s complex electoral system includes a two-house national legislature with 664 total seats. Under the military-drafted constitution, the armed forces automatically receive 25% of seats in each legislative house. The party that secures a combined parliamentary majority can select the next president, who then names a Cabinet and forms the new government.

Election officials have not yet announced voter turnout figures for the first phase. The military government claims there are more than 24 million eligible voters nationwide, representing about a 35% decrease from the 2020 election. This significant drop is largely attributed to armed conflicts that have displaced large populations and restrictions on voting in conflict-affected regions.

Human rights organizations and opposition groups have denounced the election as neither free nor fair. Critics argue that power will likely remain consolidated under Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who orchestrated the February 2021 military coup that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup prevented Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party from serving a second term after its landslide victory in 2020.

The NLD, along with 39 other political parties, was dissolved in 2023 after refusing to register under new military-imposed rules. Many opposition groups have called for a boycott of the current election.

The 2021 military takeover sparked widespread popular resistance that has evolved into a civil war. According to the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, armed opposition groups carried out attacks against polling stations and government buildings in 11 of the 102 townships participating in the first phase of voting. These attacks, which reportedly occurred on Saturday and Sunday, left five people injured.

Final election results are not expected until late January after all three phases are completed. It remains unclear whether the election commission will release aggregate figures from the first round, although vote counts were publicly announced at local polling stations.

While more than 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are competing for seats in national and regional legislatures, only six parties are contesting the election nationwide with meaningful potential to gain significant representation in parliament. Among these, the military-backed USDP is widely considered the strongest contender, especially given the absence of major opposition parties like the NLD.

The election takes place against a backdrop of ongoing violence, political repression, and international criticism of Myanmar’s military regime, which has faced sanctions and diplomatic isolation since the 2021 coup.