Myanmar Junta Plans Elections in 267 of 330 Townships

CINCDS

Myanmar’s military regime says it will hold elections in 267 of the country’s 330 townships, despite widespread conflict and resistance control across large swathes of the country.

The announcement, made by the junta-controlled Union Election Commission (UEC), targets a December or January timeline, though officials admitted it hinges on the security situation at the time.

Opposition figures have slammed the move. The National Unity Government (NUG), formed by ousted lawmakers, claims 144 townships are now under anti-junta control, with 79 experiencing active conflict. With nearly half the country either contested or controlled by resistance forces, critics argue the proposed vote lacks credibility.

The planned election will use both first-past-the-post and proportional representation systems, with electronic voting also being introduced—raising questions about transparency and oversight.

The junta has approved 54 political parties, yet only a handful—mostly regime-aligned—are authorised to contest nationwide. Notably absent is the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by the jailed Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The party was dissolved for refusing to register with the junta.

Western nations, pro-democracy groups, and many Myanmar citizens have already dismissed the proposed poll as a façade for military rule. Meanwhile, China and Russia are among the few backers publicly supporting the junta’s plan, while ASEAN chair Malaysia has urged the regime to prioritise peace over staging elections.

With no firm date and much of the country in open revolt, the junta’s electoral roadmap appears to be a bid for legitimacy under increasingly unviable conditions.

-2025-06-10