Myanmar elections to be held in December or January: junta chief
Myanmar’s military government will hold general elections in December this year or January next year, state media reported, citing junta leader Min Aung Hlaing. This is the first time he has set a specific date for the long-promised elections in war-torn Myanmar.
The junta overthrew the government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a military coup in 2021. Since then, various rebel groups have launched an armed rebellion against the junta. Myanmar has been in turmoil since then.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing had previously promised to hold elections; but his administration has repeatedly extended the state of emergency.
Critics have derided the promised elections as a farce, saying that these elections are being held to keep the generals in power. Because more than 24 political parties have been banned in the country. In addition, the junta has lost control of large parts of Myanmar to rebels.
According to a report in the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, Hlaing said during a visit to Belarus, “We are planning to hold a free and fair election soon. 53 political parties have already submitted their lists to participate in the election.”
According to a census report published in December, the junta has only been able to conduct a census in 145 of the 330 townships for the election.
The election could pose a risk of further violence in the country. Currently, the junta and the opposition are pushing to take control of Myanmar. The growing conflict in the country has collapsed the economy and displaced more than 3.5 million people.
