"The general election is the first to be held in Myanmar in five years after the country's powerful army known as The Tatmadaw grabbed power in 2021. The coup deposed the government of pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been in prison ever since. Democracy watchdogs, as well as the US, EU and other Western powers, has dismissed the election which is being held in the shadow of a brutal civil war as a sham designed to entrench the military's rule under General Min Aung Hlaing."
"The first round on December 28 saw a voter turnout of 52.13%, far lower than the previous elections held in 2020 and 2015. On Sunday, ballots opened at 6 a.m. local time (12:30 a.m. CET) in 100 of Myanmar's 330 townships, including in Yangon and Mandalay the Southeast Asian nation's largest and second-largest cities, respectively. Parts of Sagaing, Magway, Mandalay, Bago and Tanintharyi regions, along with Mon, Shan, Kachin, Kayah and Kayin states also went to the polls in the second phase."
"The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), widely seen as the military's proxy, is leading by a steep margin after winning 90 of the 102 lower house seats covered in the first phase. More than 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are contesting in the elections for seats in national and regional legislatures. However, only six parties, including the USDP, have candidates competing nationwide."
Myanmar held the second phase of a three-phase election run by the military junta. The vote is the first nationwide election since the Tatmadaw seized power in a 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi and placed her in prison. International observers and Western governments rejected the election as a sham amid a brutal civil war. The first round recorded 52.13% turnout, lower than 2020 and 2015. Balloting occurred in 100 of 330 townships, including Yangon and Mandalay, and in conflict-affected regions under increased security. The military-backed USDP leads after winning a large share of early seats.
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