Myanmar's Controversial Elections Conclude Amidst Civil Strife

Thu Jan 29 2026 20:14:53 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The final round of voting in Myanmar has closed, revealing a political landscape marred by ongoing civil war and restrictions on democratic participation, as opponents of the military junta are largely barred from contesting.

Polls closed in Myanmar's so-called elections, widely criticized as fraudulent. With many popular parties banned and a civil war preventing vast areas from voting, the military-backed party is poised for victory. Observers noted an atmosphere of intimidation and fear, even as polling appeared serene at select stations.

Polls in Myanmar have closed after a third and final stage of voting in what are widely viewed as sham elections.

Many popular parties are banned from standing and voting has not been possible in large areas of the country because of a five-year-long civil war.

The dominant party backed by the ruling military junta is expected to win a landslide victory.

The current regime has rejected international criticism of the election, maintaining that it is free and fair.

Around one-fifth of the country's 330 townships, including the cities of Yangon and Mandalay, voted in the last stage.

Six parties, including the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), fielded candidates nationwide, while another 51 parties and independent candidates decided to contest at state and regional levels.

Two previous rounds were held on December 28 and January 11, giving overwhelming victories to the USDP, which won only 6% of parliamentary seats in the last free election in 2020.

The atmosphere at polling stations was marked by a sense of calm despite the tense environment surrounding the elections.

This election follows a military coup in 2021 that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's democratically elected government. The military junta continues to face civil war with resistance groups, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country.