17 political parties register with Myanmar election commission, 5 to contest polls nationally and 12 regionally

Narinjara News, 9 March 2023

At least 17 political parties have applied for registration under the Myanmar Union Election Commission (UEC) following a new registration law was framed by the military council for the interested parties.

The new law was enacted on 26 January, where it was said that the political parties must apply for registration within 60 days if they intend to participate in elections. Failure to register within the deadline will result in automatic disqualification of those political parties.

Political analyst U Than Soe Naing has expressed his concern that the forthcoming election would be manipulated by the military council chief senior general Min Aung Hlaing.

"A free and fair election is almost impossible at this moment. The junta chief will hold the election with an aim to elongate the term of his regime,” added the analyst.

As of 8 March, the election commission has received applications from Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), Federal Democratic Party (FDP), Myanmar People's Democratic Party (MPD), Union Democracy Party (UDP), Pa-O National Organization (PNO), Democratic Forces Labor Party (DFLP), New Democracy Party (Kachin), Public Contribute Students Party (PCSP), New National Democracy Party (NNDP), Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party (PSDP), National Unity Party (NUP), Arakan Front Party (AFP), Kachin State People's Party (KSPP), Wun Thar Nu Party, People's Power Party, and Democratic Party.

Political parties which intend to contest elections across the country must have 100,000 members within 90 days of registration and it has to maintain an account of Myanmar Economic Bank with a minimum of Kyats 1,000 lakh. Additionally, those parties must open offices in 50% of Myanmar townships within 180 days of registration.

However, the political parties intending to operate regionally have to mobilize at least 10,000 active members in the concerned region or State and establish a bank account with a minimum of Kyats 100 lakh. Moreover, these parties must open party offices at least in five townships within their operational area by 180 days of registration.

There were over 90 political parties in Myanmar, but many of the party leaders have decided not to apply for registration under the new law because of various restrictions.