Myanmar to hold general elections on December 28
Myanmar’s Union Election Commission has announced that the country will hold nationwide general elections on December 28, 2025, marking the first such polls since the military seized power more than four years ago.
The decision was confirmed on Monday through state broadcaster MRTV, which described the upcoming vote as a “multi-party democratic general election.”
The announcement comes at a critical juncture for the Southeast Asian nation, where the 2021 military coup toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), which had won a landslide victory in the November 2020 elections. The coup triggered widespread protests, an armed resistance movement, and years of political instability that have left the country deeply polarized and economically strained.
Last month, the junta declared an end to its prolonged state of emergency, forming a new election commission to oversee preparations. In a controversial move, junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing appointed himself as acting president.
Observers note that the election plan is widely seen as the junta’s attempt to legitimize its rule both domestically and on the international stage. However, questions remain over whether the polls will be free or inclusive, as major opposition parties, including the NLD, remain under heavy restrictions, with many of their leaders imprisoned or barred from political activity.
International reaction has so far been cautious. Western governments and rights groups have repeatedly accused Myanmar’s generals of using elections as a façade to extend military control, while neighboring countries in ASEAN have urged the regime to pursue genuine dialogue with opposition groups to restore stability.
If held as scheduled, the December 28 vote could reshape Myanmar’s political landscape, but analysts warn it risks deepening the crisis unless meaningful participation from all stakeholders is guaranteed.
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