Myanmar concludes controversial post-coup elections amid criticism

Myanmar's military government has concluded a three-phase general election, the first since it seized power in a 2021 coup, amid widespread international condemnation that labels the process a fraudulent attempt to legitimize continued military rule.

Final Phase and Junta Leader's Response

The third and final round of polling took place on Sunday across 63 townships, following earlier phases held on December 28 and January 11. Acting President and military chief General Min Aung Hlaing visited polling stations in the Mandalay region, dismissing international criticism. "It is not my concern that the international community refuses to acknowledge this," he was quoted as saying by the Irrawaddy newspaper.

Expected Timeline and Political Landscape

Junta officials have stated that a new parliament will convene in March, with a government expected to take office in April. The elections, which will fill seats in the bicameral Union Parliament and regional legislatures, excluded the previously ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) among 40 parties dissolved in 2023. Approximately six parties with nearly 5,000 candidates participated, alongside the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, which fielded over 1,000 candidates.

Context of Coup and International Rejection

The elections mark a stark contrast to the last vote in 2020, which the NLD won decisively before being overthrown in the February 2021 coup, plunging the country into conflict and emergency rule. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, urged the global community to reject the election's legitimacy, calling it a process that yields "simply military rule in civilian clothing."