Sun Jan 04 05:18:32 UTC 2026: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

Myanmar’s pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has claimed a decisive victory in the first phase of junta-run elections, winning 90% of the lower house seats announced so far. The elections, widely condemned by rights advocates and Western diplomats as a sham, are being held after the military seized power in a 2021 coup. The previously dominant National League for Democracy (NLD) of Aung San Suu Kyi was barred from participating, and Suu Kyi remains imprisoned. The USDP also won the majority of regional and state seats announced.

News Article:

Myanmar’s Pro-Military Party Claims Landslide Victory in First Phase of Junta-Run Elections

Yangon, Myanmar – January 4, 2026 – The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), widely considered a proxy for Myanmar’s military junta, has declared a resounding victory in the initial phase of the controversial national elections. According to official results released by state media, the USDP has secured 87 out of 96 lower house seats announced to date, representing approximately 90% of the total.

The elections, conducted under the auspices of the military junta that seized power in a 2021 coup, have been met with widespread condemnation from international observers and human rights organizations. Critics allege that the polls are a sham designed to legitimize military rule following a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy movements.

The massively popular National League for Democracy (NLD), led by democratic figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi, was barred from participating in the election. Suu Kyi, who has been imprisoned since the coup, and her party won in the last election, which was then overturned by the USDP with allegations of voter fraud. The military and USDP then alleged massive voter fraud, claims that international monitors say were unfounded.

Beyond the lower house, the USDP has also claimed victory in 14 of the 15 regional and state constituency seats announced. The Union Election Commission (UEC) has reported a turnout exceeding 50% for the first phase, lower than the 70% participation rate in the 2020 election.

The remaining phases of the election are scheduled for January 11 and 25. The international community is watching closely as the junta attempts to consolidate its power through what many consider a deeply flawed and undemocratic process.

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