Myanmar votes in election expected to prolong military rule

Last Updated on December 28, 2025 10:31 pm

By Aidan Jones

The first day of voting in Myanmar’s three-stage election was held on Sunday, a process decried as a charade with the most popular pro-democracy party banned and up to half the war-torn country unable to vote.

In the capital, Naypyidaw, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing cast his vote in an election he views as a way to cement the future of the military in a country torn apart by civil war since he seized power after the public rejected army-linked parties in the last poll.

“People should vote,” the 69-year-old told reporters. “If they don’t vote, I will have to say they don’t completely understand what democracy really is.”

He did not confirm if he would seek the post of president as is widely expected after the election.

Election monitors warned the international community not to be tricked by the flawed polls into welcoming back Myanmar from the diplomatic deep freeze on the basis of any new government that emerges once the votes are counted in late January, following two more rounds of voting.

Myanmar remains subject to sanctions from the US, EU and UK but has been handed an economic lifeline – and diplomatic shield – by its giant neighbours China and India, as well as Russia, which has also sold arms to the junta.

Source :SCMP