Myanmar’s ruling military has gone ahead with the second round of its highly criticised general election, a process many observers say is aimed at keeping the junta in power rather than restoring true democracy.
Voting took place on Sunday in selected parts of the country, including Kawhmu township near Yangon, a constituency formerly represented by detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Polling stations opened early, with voters seen casting ballots under heavy security.
The election is being held in three phases, with the final round expected to end on January 25. Military leaders say the process will return authority to civilians after years of direct rule. However, democracy advocates argue the vote lacks credibility, as major opposition parties have been banned and political freedoms sharply restricted.
Myanmar’s military seized power in a 2021 coup, overturning the results of the 2020 election that was overwhelmingly won by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). Since then, the country has been gripped by widespread unrest and armed conflict between government forces and resistance groups.
Some voters who participated in the latest round said they were motivated by hope for peace, despite acknowledging the country’s deep challenges. A resident who voted in Kawhmu said she believed the situation could improve gradually, even if progress would take time.
Results from the first phase of the election showed a landslide victory for the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), widely seen as aligned with the military. The party secured nearly all available seats, a result critics say was inevitable due to the exclusion of popular opposition groups.
Turnout during the first round was significantly lower than in the 2020 election, reflecting widespread public apathy and distrust. Voting has also been cancelled in many areas affected by fighting, particularly regions controlled by armed resistance movements.
International observers and rights groups have strongly criticised the election. A United Nations human rights expert described the process as carefully designed to create a false sense of legitimacy while repression and violence continue across the country.
Under Myanmar’s constitution, the military is guaranteed 25 percent of parliamentary seats regardless of election outcomes. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has also suggested he may assume a civilian leadership role once a new government is formed.
Meanwhile, thousands of political prisoners remain in detention, and strict laws are in place to punish criticism of the election.
