Poe Wah, Narinjara News, 10 March 2025 

The junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, announced that Myanmar's general election is planned for either December 2025 or January 2026.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing made the remark during his trip to Belarus at a joint press briefing with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on March 7. 

"We had to declare a state of emergency and assume responsibility for the nation because of electoral fraud in the 2020 general election. We will conduct elections shortly as per the law. I would like to stress that we aim to conduct free and fair elections in December 2025 or as soon as January 2026," he stated.

The junta chief also noted that 53 political parties have submitted their candidate lists to take part in the elections. 

Political analysts, however, indicate that the election may not be free and fair, as fierce confrontations between junta forces and armed opposition groups persist throughout Myanmar, and the junta has lost a significant amount of its territory. 

CDM Captain Zin Yaw stated, "The junta intends to conduct an election despite losing control of nearly one-third of the territory. The internet is unreliable, but they anticipate carrying out digital voting—it's impractical. Even within the initial framework, mistakes occurred. Even in the absence of fraud, the outcomes will be faulty. The international community will not acknowledge this election as valid in any way.” 

At present, fierce conflicts are escalating throughout Myanmar, devastating lives and properties, and displacing many individuals. 

Political analysts contend that, under these conditions, the election the junta intends to conduct will not be free or fair, as many individuals have escaped their residences due to the violence. 

In Arakan State, local politicians claim that the Arakan Army (AA) governs 14 of the 17 townships in the area, rendering a junta-led election in the state unfeasible. 

U Tet Tun Aung, a past Amyotha Hluttaw member from Pauktaw Township, informed Narinjara News, "The matter in Myanmar isn't about elections. The fundamental concern is equal rights, and elections cannot fix this. There is no justification for conducting elections in Arakan State. It is 95 percent likely that by 2025, the ULA/AA will have complete control over Arakan State. Consequently, conducting elections in Arakan State is entirely unfeasible." 

Furthermore, political parties have stated that the junta's Union Election Commission has directed them to get ready for elections in 110 of Myanmar’s 330 townships. 

Arakan political expert U Pe Than informed Narinjara News that the political parties permitted by the junta to register for the elections are simply its puppet parties. He stated that without any opposing parties, the junta's actions are merely an effort to regain state power.