Myanmar’s military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) emerged as the clear frontrunner in early results from the country’s first general election since the 2021 coup, according to figures released by state media.
Partial tallies from the initial phase of voting show the junta-backed party securing an overwhelming share of seats, underscoring the military’s grip on the political process despite low voter turnout and widespread international criticism.
The Union Election Commission (UEC) announced results from 56 constituencies, revealing that the USDP—led largely by retired military officers—won 38 of the 40 lower house seats counted so far in the Pyithu Hluttaw.
Two ethnic-based parties claimed the remaining seats: the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, also known as the White Tiger Party, and the Mon Unity Party, each winning one constituency.
In regional and state assemblies, the USDP also dominated, taking 14 of the 15 seats declared under Myanmar’s first-past-the-post voting system. The Akha National Development Party secured the remaining seat.
For the upper house, the Amyotha Hluttaw, only one constituency result has been announced, which was won by the Wa National Party.
The election marks Myanmar’s first nationwide vote since the military overthrew the elected government in February 2021, triggering mass protests and a nationwide armed resistance. The junta has framed the three-phase election as a step toward restoring stability.
However, the process has been widely condemned by the United Nations, Western governments, and human rights organizations. Most major pro-democracy parties are barred from participating, and criticism of the election is illegal under current laws.
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The election commission has not disclosed how many constituencies voted in the first phase, instead releasing results incrementally by seat.
The military said on Wednesday that about 52% of eligible voters participated in the first round of voting. That figure is significantly lower than turnout in Myanmar’s previous general elections, which stood at roughly 70% in both 2015 and 2020, according to data from the U.S.-based International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
Two additional voting phases are scheduled for January 11 and January 25 and are expected to cover 265 of Myanmar’s 330 townships. Some of those areas remain contested by armed resistance groups, raising questions about whether voting can proceed as planned.
