Polls Close in Myanmar's Controversial General Election Amid Military Control and Opposition Bans
Polls have closed in the first phase of Myanmar's three-stage general election, an event widely condemned as a sham designed to legitimise the military junta's rule. The election landscape is heavily skewed, with most candidates seen as allies of the military. The National League for Democracy (NLD) has been banned and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains detained.
Large areas of the country were excluded from voting due to control by anti-junta groups or ongoing fighting, resulting in reportedly low turnout in Yangon. The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), aligned with the military, is fielding the most candidates and is expected to form the largest bloc in the new assembly.
While Western governments have condemned the election, observers from China, Russia, India, and Vietnam have been invited. Senior military leader Min Aung Hlaing asserted that the vote would be free and fair despite widespread skepticism. The United Nations highlighted that the election takes place amid violence, repression, and displacement, with warnings issued for displaced persons to return in order to participate.
A total of 57 parties competed, although only six are contesting nationwide. The opposition has been largely banned or forced underground. The newly imposed election law threatens critics with at least three years in prison or the death penalty. Preliminary results for the first phase are expected to be announced Sunday after polls closed at 4pm local time.
