Myanmar's Controversial Election Begins Amidst Civil Turmoil

Mon Dec 29 2025 11:23:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The military junta in Myanmar held the first day of voting in an election deemed a 'sham' by critics amid ongoing civil unrest and violence. With major political parties banned and leaders jailed, the legitimacy of the process remains in question.

On December 28, Myanmar's first phase of voting concluded, but the election has faced significant backlash for being illegitimate and politically motivated. Major political parties were dissolved, leaders imprisoned, and heavy military actions marred the electoral process. Despite government claims of a systematic voting experience, many voters express skepticism towards the election's credibility.

The first of three phases of voting has finished in Myanmar, in an election widely dismissed as a sham, with major political parties dissolved, leaders jailed and as much as half the country not expected to vote due to an ongoing civil war.

The military government is holding a phased ballot nearly five years after it seized power in a coup, prompting widespread opposition and spiraling into civil war.

Observers say the junta, with China's support, is seeking to legitimise its power as it seeks a way out of the devastating stalemate.

More than 200 people have been charged for disrupting or opposing the polls under a new law which carries severe punishments, including the death penalty.

There were reports of explosions and air strikes across multiple regions as the first round of voting took place on Sunday. A rocket attack on an uninhabited house in the Mandalay region in the early hours of the morning injured three people, the region's chief minister told the BBC.

Separately, a series of explosions damaged more than 10 houses in the Myawaddy township, near the border with Thailand, late on Saturday. A resident told the BBC that a child was killed and three others were taken to hospital.

Voters have told the BBC that the election feels more disciplined and systematic than previous polls. Before I voted, I was afraid. Now that I have voted, I feel relieved. I cast my ballot as someone who has tried their best for the country, said Ma Su ZarChi, a voter from the Mandalay region.

First-time voter Ei Pyay Phyo Maung, 22, expressed her belief in the importance of voting for change in the economy, emphasizing a desire for equality and assistance for struggling citizens.

The Burmese junta has rejected criticism of the polls, asserting that it aims to return [the country] to a multi-party democratic system. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing stated that the election would be free and fair.

However, many prominent figures, including film director Mike Tee, were convicted under a law against opposing the election, reflecting the regime's tight grip on dissent.

UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews condemned the elections, characterizing them as a theatre of the absurd performed at gunpoint amid ongoing violence and political repression.

The military's control over large parts of the country has presented logistical challenges for the election, with significant portions remaining under opposition control. Universal condemnation from Western governments and calls for political dialogue only complicate the already fragile situation.