Myanmar’s military-appointed Union Election Commission announced on August 18, 2025, that the first phase of the long-delayed general election will begin on December 28, with subsequent phases to be held across December and January. Elections are planned across all 330 townships, although details of later voting dates are yet to be confirmed.
Nearly 60 political parties have registered to compete, including the military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party, though only a handful intend to contest nationwide. Critics—particularly Western governments and human rights advocates—have denounced the election as a sham intended to legitimize the military’s grip on power since the 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government.
The election is being organized against the backdrop of escalating violence. Myanmar remains engulfed in a civil war, with significant portions of the country controlled by resistance groups and ethnic armed groups. The junta has put in place extreme election laws that impose harsh penalties, including possible death penalties, for any attempt to disrupt or defy the vote.
In the meantime, and with the polls only 6 weeks away, the situation is also being watched by neighbouring countries and regional entities, especially as Malaysia’s foreign minister is about to ask for clarity of the polls ahead of the ASEAN summit in October.
