In a move widely perceived as an attempt to legitimize its 2021 coup, Myanmar’s military government has launched election campaigns, with national polls scheduled for December 28. Despite the ongoing civil war, which has rendered voting impossible in many regions, 57 political parties have registered for the contest. Notably absent is Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), which was forcibly disbanded after refusing to participate in what it deemed a fraudulent process. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has already unveiled its campaign slogan, ‘Stronger Myanmar,’ in ceremonies held in Naypyitaw and Yangon. USDP chairman Khin Yi, a former general, emphasized that the election would adhere to regulations and law, asserting that the results would confer legitimacy. However, critics argue that the polls will be neither free nor fair, with opposition groups, including armed resistance factions, vowing to disrupt the process. The General Strike Coordination Body has called for a nationwide election boycott, urging public participation in their anti-military protests. The military government, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has acknowledged that voting will be limited to 202 townships due to ongoing conflict. The USDP, fielding over 1,000 candidates, is expected to dominate the polls in the absence of credible opposition parties. The 2021 coup, justified by unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in the 2020 elections, has plunged Myanmar into chaos, with airstrikes and military operations exacerbating civilian casualties and instability.
A military-backed party in Myanmar holds rallies as campaigning begins for December election
