Mon Aug 18 09:02:53 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Myanmar’s military government has announced the first phase of long-promised elections will begin on December 28. However, these elections are widely viewed with skepticism due to concerns about their fairness and credibility. The announcement follows the recent lifting of a state of emergency in some parts of the country. Many opposition groups, including Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, plan to boycott the elections, considering them a sham designed to legitimize the military’s rule. The country has been embroiled in civil war since the 2021 coup that ousted the democratically elected government, and numerous rebel groups control significant portions of Myanmar. The military’s claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 elections, which the National League for Democracy won decisively, have been disputed by independent election monitors.
**News Article:**
**Myanmar Military Announces Election Date Amid Widespread Skepticism**
**YANGON, MYANMAR** – Myanmar’s military government has set December 28 as the date for the first phase of long-awaited general elections, the Union Election Commission announced Monday. However, the move has been met with widespread skepticism and accusations of being a sham designed to legitimize the junta’s rule.
According to state media, 55 parties have registered to participate, with nine vying for nationwide seats. The announcement follows last month’s declaration by the military administration, led by Min Aung Hlaing, that a state of emergency was ending in preparation for the polls. The military seized power in a February 2021 coup, ousting the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and imposing emergency rule.
Opposition groups, including Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), have vowed to boycott the elections. They argue that the vote is a thinly veiled attempt by Min Aung Hlaing to consolidate his power.
The country has been embroiled in a civil war since the coup, with various rebel groups, including the People’s Defence Force, the Arakan Army, and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, controlling significant portions of the country.
The military claimed widespread fraud in the November 2020 elections, which the NLD won in a landslide victory. These claims have been widely disputed by independent election monitoring groups like the Asian Network for Free Elections and the Carter Center, who said the outcome was reflective of the public’s will.
“Further dates for the subsequent steps of the elections will be announced accordingly,” the Election Commission stated. However, given the ongoing conflict, lack of independent oversight, and boycott by major political parties, the credibility of the upcoming elections remains in serious doubt.
First Piper 