The National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which was ousted from government during the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, called on the international community not to recognize the regime “sham” elections, set to begin on Dec. 28, on the date the campaign for political parties began on Tuesday..
“[We urge the] immediate release of all political prisoners including the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint,” the NLD stated in its press release on Oct. 28.
The two NLD leaders were jailed by the military during its coup on Feb. 1, 2021. They have been held incommunicado ever since by the regime which seized power in Naypyidaw following the 2021 coup.
During the election held on Nov. 8, 2020, voting occurred in 1,117 out of 1,171 constituencies nationwide. A total of 5,379 candidates from 91 political parties and 260 individual candidates competed with an over 95 percent completion rate.
“The 2020 General Election was recognized by the international community, including the U.N., as free and fair,” the NLD stated.
Over 71 percent of the 38,271,447 eligible voters cast their ballots. A total of 920 parliamentary candidates were elected with the NLD party winning 82.36 percent of all constituencies.
Pro-military parties, including the former governing Union Solidarity and Development (USDP) accused the NLD of electoral fraud, which was used as a pretext for the 2021 coup, according to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. No evidence of voter fraud has ever been shared by the military or its proxy parties. The USDP governed Myanmar under a hybrid regime from 2010-15.
The regime Union Election Commission (UEC) doesn’t allow citizens or media to criticize its elections, or to engage in political activities beyond campaigning for parliamentary seats.
The regime 2025-26 elections will be held in three phases with phase two taking place on Jan. 11, regime media reported. The date for phase three has yet to be determined.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed its “deep concern” over the crisis in Burma. It has reportedly decided not to send election observers to monitor the polls despite Thailand and Cambodia having already confirmed they would.
The NLD vows not to recognize the regime election results which will lead to more conflict across Myanmar, which has been engulfed in violence since the uprising to the 2021 coup began.
The political party campaign was launched on Oct. 28 – 60-days ahead of the first date of voting, according to the UEC.
The USDP announced that it launched its campaign for the regime 2025-26 elections at party headquarters in Naypyidaw on Oct. 28. Over 5,000 USDP members were present.
The People’s Party (PP) launched its manifesto on the same day in Yangon.
The founder and chairperson of the People’s Pioneer Party (PPP) Thet Thet Khine was disqualified by the UEC on Oct. 25, for allegedly violating the Election Law. The UEC disqualified a total of 86 parliamentary candidates.
It approved the registration of 4,946 candidates from 57 political parties for the regime 2025-26 elections. Only six parties, including the USDP, the PPP, and the People’s Party, will contest polls nationwide.
The election will be held in 274 of Myanmar’s total 33o townships. The first phase will be held in 102 townships on Dec. 28. The second will be in 100 townships on Jan. 11, 2026 and the third in 72 townships on an unspecified later date.
Along with the NLD, the National Unity Government (NUG), which was formed by lawmakers ousted in the coup, along with ethnic armed organizations such as the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Arakan Army (AA), have declared the regime election a “sham” and called on citizens to oppose or boycott it.
