(Yangon, 27th) Myanmar is about to hold its first elections since the 2021 military coup. One fifth of the candidates in this election are from the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
Over the past 35 years, Myanmar has held four nationwide elections, but only the 2010 and 2015 elections resulted in the formation of democratically elected governments. The military declared the results of the 1990 and 2020 elections invalid.
This election will be conducted in three phases, taking place on December 28, January 11, 2026, and January 25, 2026. A total of 4,963 candidates have registered to run, including 95 independents. Six political parties plan to contest seats nationwide, while 51 parties are only contesting in a single region or state. Among them, the USDP is fielding 1,018 candidates for seats across the country.
In 2023, the military government dissolved 40 political parties, including the National League for Democracy, the former ruling party led by former leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to the constitution passed in Myanmar’s 2008 national referendum, Myanmar practices a multi-party system, with general elections held every five years. The Myanmar Union Parliament has a total of 664 seats, with the House of Representatives (Lower House) holding 440 seats and the House of Nationalities (Upper House) holding 224 seats. By law, one quarter of seats in both chambers must be reserved for military representatives not elected by the public.
After the elections are completed, the new parliament must convene within 90 days to elect a speaker, followed by the election of the president as head of state. The president will then form a new government.
This election will be conducted in three phases, taking place on December 28, January 11, 2026, and January 25, 2026. A total of 4,963 candidates have registered to run, including 95 independents. Six political parties plan to contest seats nationwide, while 51 parties are only contesting in a single region or state. Among them, the USDP is fielding 1,018 candidates for seats across the country.
In 2023, the military government dissolved 40 political parties, including the National League for Democracy, the former ruling party led by former leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to the constitution passed in Myanmar’s 2008 national referendum, Myanmar practices a multi-party system, with general elections held every five years. The Myanmar Union Parliament has a total of 664 seats, with the House of Representatives (Lower House) holding 440 seats and the House of Nationalities (Upper House) holding 224 seats. By law, one quarter of seats in both chambers must be reserved for military representatives not elected by the public.
After the elections are completed, the new parliament must convene within 90 days to elect a speaker, followed by the election of the president as head of state. The president will then form a new government.