In brief
As the third and final stage of voting concludes in Myanmar, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is anticipated to win decisively despite widespread allegations that the elections are a sham. Key opposition parties remain banned, and the ongoing civil war limits voting across significant areas of the country. Observers describe a climate of fear during the electoral process, signaling little change after the expected victory. The elections come three years after a coup removed elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, deepening the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.
Polls in Myanmar have closed after a third and final stage of voting in what are widely viewed as sham elections. Many popular parties are banned from standing, and voting has not been possible in large areas of the country due to a five-year-long civil war. The dominant party backed by the ruling military junta is expected to win a landslide victory. The current regime has rejected international criticism, maintaining that the election is free and fair.Around one-fifth of the country's 330 townships, including Yangon and Mandalay, participated in this final stage, alongside six parties, including the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). Two previous rounds were conducted on 28 December and 11 January, with the USDP securing overwhelming victories.At the polling station in Nyaungshwe, Shan State, voting was orderly and peaceful. However, the preceding campaigning period was marked by fear and intimidation, leading to widespread silence about the elections due to fear of repercussions. Observers noted a military presence that closely monitored interactions.As Myanmar's military junta prepares to announce the election results, it is expected that General Min Aung Hlaing, the coup leader, will be appointed as president, symbolizing continuity of military power under civilian guise. The long-term impact of this election remains uncertain as the country grapples with ongoing civil conflict, economic hardship, and humanitarian crises exacerbated by a devastating earthquake and international funding cuts.
