Myanmar military-backed party wins majority in second round of election

Myanmar’s Military-Backed Party Leads in Election Amid Widespread Conflict

Official figures from Myanmar’s election body indicate that the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is on track to win a majority of seats in the country’s lower house, with 182 out of 330 seats up for grabs. The USDP secured 86 of 100 seats in the second phase of voting held on Sunday, according to state broadcaster MRTV.

The election is being held in three phases due to armed conflicts in the country. The first and second rounds took place in 202 townships on December 28 and January 11, while the final round will take place in more townships. However, 65 other townships are not participating due to fighting in those areas.

Critics, including human rights workers and opposition groups, have expressed concerns about the fairness of the election. The military takeover in February 2021 triggered widespread opposition that has grown into a civil war. More than 4,800 candidates from 57 political parties are competing for seats, but only six parties are contesting seats nationwide.

The International Court of Justice is currently holding hearings in a case brought by The Gambia, accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against its Rohingya community. The election also comes as the military government faces scrutiny over its handling of the polls, including imposing harsh penalties for public criticism and scrutinizing party officials for alleged foreign ties.

A new Election Protection Law has been implemented, which imposes penalties for most public criticism of the polls. Authorities have recently charged more than 330 people with leafleting or online activity related to the election. The final results for all seats in both national and regional legislatures are expected to be announced by late January.

Source: Al Jazeera