Voting has begun in Myanmar's second phase of military-run elections, which are being widely condemned as a sham exercise. The polls come after a low turnout in the initial round, and the National League for Democracy party, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, was dissolved along with dozens of other anti-junta parties.
The election is seen as a tool to formalize junta rule, with the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party leading by a significant margin. The party has won 90 out of 102 lower house seats in the first phase, which saw only 52.13% voter turnout - significantly lower than previous elections.
The United Nations, Western countries, and human rights groups have described the election as neither free, fair nor credible, with no meaningful opposition participating. Analysts warn that the junta's attempt to form a stable administration amid raging conflict is fraught with risk, and any military-controlled government is unlikely to gain broad international recognition.
A final round of voting will take place on January 25, covering 265 out of 330 townships, including areas where the junta does not have full control. The junta claims the election will bring political stability and a better future for the country, but critics argue that it is a farce designed to legitimize the military's grip on power.
At least 16,600 civilians have died in the conflict since the coup, and 3.6 million people have been displaced, according to the Armed Conflict Location + Event Data Project and UN estimates. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has hailed the election as a success, despite sidestepping questions about his own political ambitions.
The outcome of the election is seen as highly uncertain, with analysts warning that any military-controlled government is unlikely to gain international recognition or legitimacy. The junta's attempts to shape the results through legislation and manipulation have been widely criticized as an attempt to stifle opposition and undermine democracy.
The election is seen as a tool to formalize junta rule, with the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party leading by a significant margin. The party has won 90 out of 102 lower house seats in the first phase, which saw only 52.13% voter turnout - significantly lower than previous elections.
The United Nations, Western countries, and human rights groups have described the election as neither free, fair nor credible, with no meaningful opposition participating. Analysts warn that the junta's attempt to form a stable administration amid raging conflict is fraught with risk, and any military-controlled government is unlikely to gain broad international recognition.
A final round of voting will take place on January 25, covering 265 out of 330 townships, including areas where the junta does not have full control. The junta claims the election will bring political stability and a better future for the country, but critics argue that it is a farce designed to legitimize the military's grip on power.
At least 16,600 civilians have died in the conflict since the coup, and 3.6 million people have been displaced, according to the Armed Conflict Location + Event Data Project and UN estimates. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has hailed the election as a success, despite sidestepping questions about his own political ambitions.
The outcome of the election is seen as highly uncertain, with analysts warning that any military-controlled government is unlikely to gain international recognition or legitimacy. The junta's attempts to shape the results through legislation and manipulation have been widely criticized as an attempt to stifle opposition and undermine democracy.
This whole thing feels like a setup for another crisis in Myanmar... I mean, I know the election is technically underway but it just seems so scripted & staged to me. The fact that only 52% of people bothered voting in the first round already raises red flags 
And now with the opposition parties dissolved & no meaningful competition in sight, it's like they're trying to legitimize a military regime that's only good for violence & human rights abuses 
I'm not gonna speculate too much but it feels like the world is just sitting back & watching while Myanmar sinks deeper into darkness 
... Like, what even is the point of voting if there's no real competition? It feels like they're just going through the motions to legitimize their grip on power. And 16,600 civilian deaths since the coup? That's just heartbreaking 
...
I mean, seriously, can't they just give people a break? They're already struggling with conflict and displacement... do they really need another "election" that's basically just going to legitimize the military's grip on power? 
, you know? I mean, who has a real chance of winning when the opposition is basically shut down and only one party is allowed to run? And with all these allegations of voter manipulation and stuff... it's hard to see how this could possibly lead to any kind of true democracy. I've been following the situation in Myanmar for a while now, and it just seems like they're trying to consolidate their power as much as possible 
. The fact that so many people have died and been displaced because of the conflict is just heartbreaking 
. And now this election is supposed to bring stability and a better future? I'm not buying it 
. The international community needs to be paying closer attention to what's going on in Myanmar. We can't just turn a blind eye when democracy is being hijacked like that 
.
. I mean, who needs free and fair elections when you've got a powerful military backing your government? The fact that they're trying to legitimize their grip on power is just laughable 
. And let's be real, if the opposition isn't participating, what does that say about the state of democracy in Myanmar? It's all about the military's interests, not the people's. I'm also not buying the whole "political stability" narrative... we've seen how well their rule has worked out for the civilians 
. And it's not just about the election itself, but also what it says about the state of democracy and human rights in the country 
.
.
i dont think the military's tryin 2 win legitimacy thru this sham election, but it wont work 
the world needs 2 stand wit myanmar & demand real democracy 
The fact that no opposition parties are allowed to participate is just laughable 
. And don't even get me started on the human toll - 16,600 dead and 3.6 million displaced... how can we expect this "election" to bring peace or stability? 
. I just don't trust any outcome that comes out of this farce 
how can one party get 90% of the seats like that? isn't that like, rigged or something? 
.
Can we get some sources on this? Where's the data coming from? The UN and Western countries saying it's a sham exercise doesn't exactly carry much weight in my book... how credible are they, anyway? 
Can't believe what's happening in Myanmar rn... voting in a country where the military has basically taken over? It's like they're trying to pull a fast one on the whole world. Like, I get it, stability is important, but at what cost? Thousands of civilians have lost their lives and millions are displaced. It's heartbreaking 
it's not even a real election, just some fake exercise to make them look like they're listening to the people 
but honestly who do you think they're really listening to? 
themselves, or maybe just their own selfish interests 