Military-Backed Party Leads Early Results in Disputed Myanmar Election

Myanmar’s military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has taken a commanding lead following the first phase of the country’s first general election since the 2021 coup.

Early results released Friday by the military-controlled Union Election Commission (UEC) confirm the USDP won 38 of the first 40 seats tallied for the lower house. The party also secured 14 of 15 seats in regional and state races. Minority parties, including the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party and the Mon Unity Party, picked up single seats.

While the junta reported a 52% turnout for the first phase, independent monitors noted a significant drop from the roughly 70% turnout seen in the 2015 and 2020 elections.

The vote follows years of nationwide conflict sparked by the 2021 military takeover. Conspicuously absent from the ballot is the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The NLD was dissolved by the military after Suu Kyi was detained during the coup.

The United Nations, Western governments, and human rights organizations have denounced the polls as a "sham." Critics argue the election lacks legitimacy because the Major anti-junta parties are barred from participating. Criticizing the election process is a criminal offense. The junta lacks full territorial control in many regions.

The ruling junta maintains that this three-phase election will bring "political stability" to the Southeast Asian nation. However, analysts warn that forming a stable government during an ongoing civil war is highly improbable.

Two more rounds of voting are scheduled for January 11 and January 25, covering 265 of Myanmar’s 330 townships. A final date for the full results has not been announced.