Overview
- Balloting is scheduled in two stages on Dec. 28 and Jan. 11 across 202 of 330 townships, with authorities floating a third phase and providing no timetable for counting or results.
- Major opposition forces, including Aung San Suu Kyi’s dissolved National League for Democracy, are absent as only six parties contest nationwide from a field of 4,963 candidates.
- The military-aligned USDP has 1,018 candidates and benefits from structures that include a 25% seat quota for serving officers under the 2008 constitution.
- UN reporting details arrests under a new election law, sentences of 42–49 years for anti-election posters, and seven-year terms for prominent artists, alongside threats pushing displaced people to return to vote.
- Junta officials deny coercion and point to backing from China, Russia and India, while the UN, Western governments and rights groups say the exercise lacks credibility and ASEAN signals continued hesitation.