Tue Dec 23 03:02:48 UTC 2025: ## Myanmar Junta’s Heavily Restricted Elections Spark Condemnation Amid Civil War
Yangon, Myanmar – December 23, 2025 – Myanmar’s military junta is set to begin a series of heavily restricted elections starting December 28, 2025, a move widely criticized as a sham designed to legitimize their rule after ousting the elected government in February 2021. The polls are taking place against the backdrop of a raging civil war and the continued imprisonment of former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
International observers have dismissed the month-long, phased voting process as a rebranding of martial law, citing the dissolution of Suu Kyi’s popular National League for Democracy (NLD) party, the barring of many other parties from competing, and a ballot dominated by military allies. Voting will not occur in rebel-held areas, further undermining the legitimacy of the process.
The first round of voting is scheduled to begin on Sunday in junta-controlled territories, including major cities like Yangon, Mandalay, and Naypyidaw. Residents report widespread disinterest and fear potential repercussions for abstaining.
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing claims the elections offer a chance for reconciliation, but maintains the military will continue to play a significant role in Myanmar’s political leadership, bolstered by the constitution that reserves 25% of parliamentary seats for the armed forces.
Suu Kyi, serving a 27-year sentence on what are widely considered politically motivated charges, would likely deem the elections meaningless, according to her son. The NLD, which secured a landslide victory in the 2020 elections that triggered the coup, is no longer a participant. The pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) dominates the candidate pool.
The junta has implemented draconian measures to suppress dissent, prosecuting over 200 individuals for actions perceived as disrupting the election. An estimated 22,000 political prisoners are currently detained in junta jails.
While some argue the election is the only path forward in a country mired in conflict, others, like Zaw Tun of the People’s Defence Force, vow to continue fighting. The civil war has resulted in an estimated 90,000 deaths and displaced 3.6 million people, according to the UN.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated in October that he does not believe the elections will contribute to resolving Myanmar’s problems.
The second and third rounds of polling are scheduled for January 11, 2026, and a later date respectively.
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