According to preliminary results cited by Myanmar's state media, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is in the lead after the highly controversial first stage of voting in the first election since the 2021 coup.
This is Myanmar's first election since 2020, with voting taking place in three stages.
Partial results released by the Union Election Commission for 56 constituencies show that, despite very low voter turnout, the military-backed party has won by a wide margin as expected.
Results announced on the 3rd show that in the 40 lower house (People's Assembly) seats where counting has been completed, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, led by retired military officials, has won 38 seats.
The date for the final results of this election has yet to be determined. Because anti-military parties did not participate and criticizing the election is considered an illegal act, the vote has drawn criticism from the United Nations, some Western countries, and human rights organizations.