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Myanmar Ends Three-Phase Election as Junta-Aligned Bloc Moves to Control Parliament

International critics say the process was engineered to entrench military power.

Overview

  • Voting concluded on Jan. 25 after balloting in about 60–61 townships in the final phase, with official results expected later this week.
  • The USDP has secured 193 of 209 declared lower-house seats and 52 of 78 in the upper house, which alongside the military’s 25% reserved seats gives the bloc a parliamentary majority.
  • Turnout in the first two phases hovered around 55%, and no voting occurred in more than one-fifth of Myanmar’s 330 townships due to conflict and insecurity.
  • Authorities enforced a new Election Protection Law that penalizes criticism of the polls, with more than 400 people charged in recent weeks.
  • UN rapporteur Tom Andrews urged governments to reject the results, Malaysia said ASEAN would not certify the vote, and the junta plans to convene parliament in March with a new government expected in April as Min Aung Hlaing is widely expected to pursue the presidency.