Myanmar junta holds second phase of election widely decried as a sham exercise'

"The United Nations, many western countries and human rights groups say the election is a sham exercise that is neither free, fair nor credible in the absence of a meaningful opposition. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party is leading by a huge margin after winning 90 of the 102 lower house seats contested in the first phase on 28 December, which saw only 52.13% voter turnout, much lower than elections in 2020 and 2015."

"The USDP is on track for a landslide victory, which is hardly a surprise given the extent to which the playing field was tilted in its favour. This included the removal of any serious rivals and a set of laws designed to stifle opposition to the polls, said Richard Horsey, senior Myanmar adviser for Crisis Group. A final round will take place on 25 January."

Voters in Myanmar cast ballots in the second stage of a military-run election after low turnout in the first phase. The 2021 military coup ousted the civilian government and detained Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering a civil war that has affected large parts of the nation of 51 million. The National League for Democracy and many anti-junta parties were dissolved or failed to register, and rebel groups refused to participate. The United Nations, many Western countries and rights groups call the election neither free nor credible without meaningful opposition. The Union Solidarity and Development Party won overwhelmingly in the first phase and is poised for a landslide.

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