Myanmar junta likely to hold elections in 2025, says official from ruling party
A senior official from Myanmar’s military-backed Union Unity and Development Party (USDP) has stated that the junta is expected to hold elections in 2025. This comes as the military continues its crackdown on opposition to its rule following the February 2021 coup, which it justified with unproven allegations of widespread fraud in the 2020 elections won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party. The coup marked the end of a decade-long experiment with democracy and has plunged the country into chaos.
The official cited the need for a national census process in 2024 and the prevailing situation in the country as reasons for the impossibility of holding elections next year. However, another member of a junta-approved political party mentioned the possibility of early 2025 elections without providing further details. When reached for comment, a junta spokesperson did not respond to AFP’s inquiries.
The Electoral Commission has recently declared that 36 political parties will be allowed to participate in future elections, with seven eligible for national elections and 29 for regional elections. Furthermore, the commission revealed the abolishment of the maximum vote zone system and the adoption of proportional elections. In March, the NLD was dissolved by the commission for failing to register under new, stricter rules imposed by the military, which has a firm grip on determining the country’s political landscape.
Aung San Suu Kyi, who co-founded the NLD in 1988, led the party to victory in the 1990 elections that were later invalidated by the junta. However, the NLD has remained a symbol of democratic aspirations in Myanmar and achieved significant wins in the 2015 and 2020 elections, defying the military-backed party. Yet, the junta’s brutal crackdown on dissidents has weakened the NLD’s leadership, with one former parliament member receiving a death sentence, the first use of capital punishment in decades.
According to an independent analyst, there is still considerable uncertainty regarding the timing of future elections, as no clear timetable has been established. However, the junta leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has called for the completion of necessary preparations before the 2024 census, after which elections could be conducted. The United States has declared that any elections held under the junta’s control would be illegitimate, while opponents of the military regime are expected to target these elections. In contrast, Russia, a key ally and arms supplier to Myanmar, has expressed support for the country’s election plans.
Despite the looming threat of terror, Khin Yi, the chairman of the Unity and Development Party, stated that his party is actively preparing for future elections. As Myanmar continues to grapple with political upheaval and internal strife, the prospect of elections in 2025 presents both challenges and possibilities for the nation’s path towards democracy.
(Note: This revised text has been edited and formatted for a professional newspaper, adhering to a neutral and formal tone.)
AFP – A Myanmar political party official said the junta is likely to hold elections in 2025 as the military continues to fight to crush opposition to its rule.
The army justified the February coup. 2021 with unproven allegations of widespread fraud in the 2020 elections for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party. a tremendous victory
The coup ended a 10-year experiment with democracy and left the country in chaos, with the army now battling the opposition in parts of the country.
“Elections are likely to be held in 2025,” said a senior official in the military-backed Union Unity and Development Party (USDP). to AFP
“We have a census process in 2024 because of the situation in the country and the national census process. Holding elections next year is impossible,” the official said.
One member of a junta-approved political party said: Elections are likely to be held in early 2025, but gave no further details.
A junta spokesman did not respond to calls made by AFP seeking comment.
The Electoral Commission said on Tuesday that 36 political parties are allowed to participate in any election. whatever will be held in the future Of those political parties, 7 were allowed to stand in national elections and 29 were allowed to stand in regional elections.
The Election Commission also announced that the maximum vote zone system would be abolished. but will use proportional elections instead
In March, the Electoral Commission dissolved the NLD because it failed to register under new, stricter rules. which is determined by the military
Suu Kyi co-founded the NLD in 1988 and won a landslide victory in the 1990 elections that were later declared invalid by the junta. However, the NLD carries a torch of aspirations for democracy in the military-ruled country. And later the party won big over the military backed party in the 2015 and 2020 elections.
But their leadership has crumbled in the junta’s bloody crackdown on dissidents. One former member of parliament was sentenced to death. This was the country’s first use of the death penalty for decades.
The junta admits that they still cannot control all parts of the country. and having postponed the holding of the election once before
“There is still great uncertainty about when the elections will be held. There is no clear timetable yet,” an independent analyst told AFP.
Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, junta leader, has called for necessary preparations. to be completed before the 2024 census, according to the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper.
Elections can be held after the census is completed. The newspaper said the statement was quoted by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
The US says that any election Anything under the junta would be a scam. And analysts say those elections will be targeted by opponents of the junta.
Russia, its ally and main arms supplier, said it would support Myanmar’s election plans.
The chairman of the Unity and Development Party, Khin Yi, said his party was preparing for future elections. Despite the threat of terror.
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