Demo or farce? Myanmar faces violent elections under military control!

Demo or farce? Myanmar faces violent elections under military control!

With the first steps towards political reorganization in Myanmar, movement is coming to the country again. On December 28, 2025, the military will begin a staggered parliamentary election that is scheduled to last until the end of January. But behind the façade of this election lies a worrying context. Loud KUOW This election is seen by many as a farce. The military, which has been in power since the coup in February 2021, wants to use this staged election to present stability to the international community and free itself from diplomatic isolation.

On February 1, 2021, the military under General Min Aung Hlaing took control of Myanmar and implemented a year-long state of emergency. The reason for this power grab was alleged voter fraud in the 2020 elections, where Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory. After the coup, many political opponents, including Aung San Suu Kyi, were imprisoned, sparking a civil war that continues to this day. The situation is catastrophic: over 11 million people suffer from food insecurity and thousands have been imprisoned Wikipedia reported.

Preparations under pressure

The election is taking place in an environment marked by violence and intimidation. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expresses concern about the conditions under which this election is being held. There is little freedom of expression and civil rights violations are alarming. Türk demands that the rights to freedom of expression and assembly must be respected, but he currently sees no way to do so UN News reported.

The military junta has introduced a new election protection law that penalizes “interference” in the electoral process. This led to a massive increase in arrests, with nearly 100 people arrested for criticizing the election. Critical voices warn that such measures would only further stifle democratic participation.

International skepticism

The international community is skeptical. Many Western governments have said they will not send election observers, seeing the election as another attempt to legitimize the military's authoritarian rule. Instead of seriously restoring the democratic process, the military government's strategy is to create a legislature dominated by its own proxy party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). This strategy could further exacerbate existing tensions rather than resolving them.

Amid the political unrest, living conditions have also become intolerable for many people. Millions are forced to flee violence because of the ongoing conflict. Hopes for a positive change are falling by the wayside for many as the opposition becomes fragmented and makes strategic mistakes while people yearn for a life without fear. Analysts report a growing sense of hopelessness towards the National Unity Government, which is perceived as incompetent.

China, which sees the military government as a necessary evil to protect its own interests, supports the regime. Geopolitical interests seem to have more weight than the needs of the local population. How the situation in Myanmar will develop remains uncertain - but what is certain is that people are suffering between the fronts and are hoping for a real political solution.