Myanmar Junta Holds First Post-Coup Vote Amid Widespread Conflict and Condemnation

Myanmar held a general election on Sunday, December 28, 2025. It was the first vote since the 2021 military coup. The polls were organized and supervised by the ruling military junta.Large parts of the country did not participate due to ongoing civil war. Major opposition parties, including the previously ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), were banned. The international community widely dismissed the process as illegitimate.

Junta Chief Promises Fair Vote as Fighting Excludes Millions

Junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing cast his ballot in the capital, Naypyitaw. He told reporters the military would guarantee a free and fair election. He stated the military could not let its name be tarnished.According to the Associated Press, voting did not occur in many regions. Areas under anti-junta group control or intense conflict were excluded. This effectively disenfranchised millions of citizens. The Guardian reported that the election was specifically designed to legitimize military rule.The most popular political force, the NLD, has been dissolved. Its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, remains in detention. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party is the dominant contender.

International Community Rejects “Sham” Election Engineered for Legitimacy

A United Nations expert immediately urged global governments to reject the polls. The statement called the vote a “sham” engineered to create a facade of legitimacy. It accused the junta of coercing citizens to participate.Analysts see the election as a key step for the junta chief’s political ambitions. When asked if he wanted to become president, Min Aung Hlaing deferred to the parliamentary process. The military-drafted constitution reserves significant power and parliamentary seats for the armed forces.The result is expected to cement military control under a civilian-like government. This move is likely to deepen Myanmar’s isolation. The civil war against ethnic armies and pro-democracy fighters is predicted to intensify.

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The 2025 Myanmar election marks a pivotal attempt by the military junta to formalize its power. With critical opposition banned and vast regions excluded, the vote lacks genuine democratic competition. The international community largely views this election as a staged event with little chance of bringing stability or legitimacy to the crisis-ridden nation.

Thought you’d like to know

Who is Aung San Suu Kyi and where is she now?

Aung San Suu Kyi is Myanmar’s former civilian leader and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Her party, the NLD, won a landslide in 2020. She was deposed in the 2021 coup and remains imprisoned by the military junta.

Why are these elections called a “sham”?

Experts call them a sham because the main opposition is banned and millions cannot vote due to war. The United Nations says the process is engineered solely to manufacture legitimacy for the military government after its coup.

What areas of Myanmar are not voting?

Large territories under the control of ethnic armed organizations or pro-democracy forces are excluded. Regions experiencing fierce fighting are also not holding polls, as reported by international news agencies.

What happens after the election?

A military-backed parliament will convene and select a president. The military-drafted constitution ensures the armed forces retain ultimate control over key ministries and a quarter of all parliamentary seats.

How has the international community reacted?

Reaction has been overwhelmingly negative. UN officials have urged governments not to recognize the results. Major world powers are expected to condemn the vote as illegitimate and undemocratic.