Polls have closed in Myanmar’s first general election since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup, but the vote has been heavily restricted and widely condemned.
Voting took place in only about a third of the country’s 330 townships, with elections cancelled entirely in 65 areas due to ongoing civil war. Early indications suggest turnout may have been as low as one-third of registered voters.
Critics including the United Nations and Western governments say the poll is neither free nor fair, noting that anti-military parties were barred and Suu Kyi remains detained.
The pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Party is expected to dominate. Military chief Min Aung Hlaing described the election as a step toward reconciliation, but analysts told Al Jazeera it will entrench military rule and deepen divisions. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, with little prospect of international recognition for the result.
In the first part of Myanmar’s elections on December 28, 2025, the essence of democracy was on full display. From the moment polls opened at 6:00 a.m., citizens participated with purpose, patiently waiting for the chance to cast a vote for the future they believe in.#Myanmar pic.twitter.com/0AzCDAtYK1
— FreedomSeeker (@MoeSatKhinn) December 28, 2025
