In a critical moment that has drawn widespread condemnation, voters in Myanmar lined up on Sunday to participate in the second phase of an election orchestrated by the military, which many are calling a mere facade. This comes on the heels of disappointing voter turnout during the initial polls, which have been criticized as a strategy to legitimize the junta's authority.
Since the military coup in 2021 that overthrew a democratically elected government and detained Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar has been mired in conflict. This upheaval has triggered a civil war that now impacts significant regions of this impoverished nation, home to 51 million residents.
Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), which dominated the last election in 2020, has been disbanded alongside many other anti-junta political parties due to their failure to register for these latest elections. Meanwhile, various rebel factions have opted out of participation altogether.
International observers including the United Nations, numerous Western nations, and various human rights organizations have denounced the election as nothing more than a sham—devoid of genuine competition, fairness, or credibility—primarily because there is no meaningful opposition present.
The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which has the backing of the military, is currently leading by a substantial margin. It secured 90 out of 102 contested lower house seats in the first phase of voting held on December 28, which saw a meager voter turnout of just 52.13%. This figure pales in comparison to the turnout seen during elections in 2020 and 2015.
Richard Horsey, a senior adviser for Crisis Group focused on Myanmar, remarked, "The USDP is poised for a landslide victory, which comes as no shock given how significantly the odds have been stacked in its favor. This includes eliminating significant competitors and implementing laws that suppress any dissent against the elections."
A concluding round of voting is scheduled for January 25, during which elections will be held across 265 of Myanmar’s 330 townships, even in areas where the junta does not exert total control.
The junta claims that these elections will usher in political stability and a brighter future for the nation, which is currently grappling with one of Asia’s most severe humanitarian crises. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, over 16,600 civilians have lost their lives since the coup, and the UN estimates that around 3.6 million people have been forcibly displaced.
However, analysts caution that the junta's efforts to construct a stable governance structure amidst ongoing conflict are highly precarious, and any regime controlled by the military is unlikely to receive widespread recognition on the international stage.
Last month, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing evaded a question from a journalist regarding his personal political aspirations. He recently proclaimed the election a success during a visit to a township in central Myanmar, where he encouraged local officials to enhance voter participation.
"In the first phase of the election, a significant number of votes were cast, demonstrating the people's strong desire to engage in the democratic process," state media quoted him as saying.
"Therefore, it can be concluded that the election has been successful."
But here’s where it gets controversial: Can a military-dominated election ever be considered legitimate? What do you think about the junta's claims of success in this context? Feel free to share your thoughts and perspectives in the comments!
