Tue Jan 13 11:10:41 UTC 2026: ### Headline: Myanmar’s Pro-Military Party Claims Majority in Junta-Run Elections
The Story:
Myanmar’s dominant pro-military party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), has claimed a majority of elected lower house seats in the recent elections held under the junta’s rule, according to a news report dated January 13, 2026. Democracy watchdogs are criticizing the election, stating it will only prolong the armed forces’ grip on power. The election took place in stages, with the final phase scheduled for January 25, 2026. The USDP’s victory comes after the 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi and her government, plunging the country into civil war.
Key Points:
- The USDP claims to have won 87 out of 100 seats in the second phase of the election.
- The party claims a total of 176 lower house seats so far, just over half of the 330 elected positions.
- Aung San Suu Kyi’s party has been dissolved and she remains detained.
- The UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, has stated the election was engineered to ensure victory for the junta’s proxy.
- 110 seats in the lower house are reserved for the armed forces.
- Parliament is due to convene in March, where MPs will choose the President.
- Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has not ruled out resigning to take the presidential role.
Critical Analysis:
None
Key Takeaways:
- The election is widely viewed as a sham designed to legitimize the military’s continued rule.
- The USDP’s victory is likely to exacerbate the ongoing civil war and political instability in Myanmar.
- The international community’s condemnation of the election highlights the junta’s isolation.
- The military’s continued dominance undermines any prospect of a return to democracy in the near future.
- The power transition may see junta chief Min Aung Hlaing transition into the presidential role.
Impact Analysis:
None
First Piper 