Myanmar military says 50% of voters cast ballots in initial election phase

Myanmar’s Military Claims High Voter Turnout in First Stage of Elections

The Myanmar military has reported a voter turnout of over 50 percent in the first stage of its national elections, despite criticism from rights groups and lower-than-expected participation compared to past polls. The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), led by retired generals, claimed an overwhelming victory in the first phase of the three-part election.

According to military spokesman Zaw Min Tun, 52 percent of enrolled voters cast their ballots on Sunday, with more than six million people participating. The USDP is expected to win a majority of seats in the lower house of the legislature, according to one senior party official.

Rights advocates and Western diplomats have expressed concerns about the legitimacy of the elections, citing the military’s crackdown on dissent and exclusion of parties critical of its rule. The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk, stated that the elections are taking place in an environment of violence and repression, which prevents the free and meaningful participation of the people.

The turnout was lower than expected, with only about a third of Myanmar’s 330 townships participating in the first phase. The next rounds of the election are scheduled for January 11 and January 25, covering more areas of the country. The military’s legal framework for the election does not require a minimum voter turnout.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi remains in detention, and her party, the National League for Democracy, has been dissolved since its landslide victory in the 2020 general election.

Source: Al Jazeera