Myanmar is set to begin the first phase of its long-delayed parliamentary elections on December 28, 2025, marking the country’s first national voting process since the military seized power in a coup in February 2021. The election is being conducted under the authority of the ruling military junta, officially known as the State Administration Council.
The multi-phase election has been postponed several times amid ongoing civil conflict, widespread insecurity, and political repression. According to the military authorities, Phase 1 will be held in selected constituencies where security conditions are deemed stable enough for voting. Additional phases are expected to follow in early 2026, though a nationwide vote is unlikely due to continued fighting in large parts of the country.
The election takes place against the backdrop of a prolonged civil war between the military and a coalition of pro-democracy resistance groups and ethnic armed organizations. Since the 2021 coup that overthrew the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar has faced widespread violence, displacement, and economic collapse. The military does not exercise full control over many regions, limiting the reach and credibility of the electoral process.
Major opposition parties, including the National League for Democracy (NLD), have been dissolved or barred from participating. Many political leaders remain imprisoned, in exile, or in hiding. Human rights organizations argue that the absence of key opposition groups and the suppression of dissent prevent the election from meeting basic democratic standards.
Critics describe the election as an attempt by the military to legitimize its rule rather than a genuine effort to restore democracy. Under Myanmar’s constitution, the military is guaranteed a significant share of parliamentary seats regardless of election results, ensuring continued influence over governance and key ministries.
International reaction to the planned election has been largely skeptical. Western governments, the United Nations, and human rights groups have expressed concerns that the process will be neither free nor fair. They argue that credible elections are impossible under conditions of armed conflict, censorship, mass arrests, and restricted political freedoms. However, some regional powers have continued engagement with Myanmar’s military leadership, viewing the election as a potential step toward political stabilization.
As Phase 1 begins on December 28, the election is expected to deepen debate over Myanmar’s political future. While the military portrays the vote as a return to constitutional order, opponents see it as a controlled process designed to entrench military dominance amid an ongoing national crisis.
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