Myanmar junta figures indicate less than half of political parties won seats in recent elections

Mizzima

According to figures released by the Myanmar junta, 26 of the 57 political parties that contested the junta-organised election failed to secure even a single seat. The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) obtained 28 seats uncontested, as no rival candidates stood against it.

The 26 parties that suffered total defeat and failed to secure any representation in any constituency include: Modern People Party, Peace and Development Party, United Nationalities Democracy Party, Union Peace and Unity Party, Democratic Party, Socio-Economic Promotion Party, Democratic Forces Labour Party, New Generation Wunthanu Party, People’s Party of Myanmar Farmers and Workers, National Political Alliances League Party, Peace and Diversity Party, Unity and Development Party, New National Democratic Party, Public of Labour Party, Mon Progressive Party, Union of Myanmar Federation of National Politics, Party for the People, Kokang Democracy and Unity Party, Myanmar People’s Democratic Party, Peace Party, National Political New Energy Party, Kha Mee National Development Party, Rakhine State National United Party, Mro National Development Party and Khumi (Khami) National Party.

There were uncontested races in 31 constituencies. Of these, the USDP secured 28 seats, while the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP/White Tiger), the Wa National Party, and the Akha National Development Party each won one seat without opposition.

Regarding the failure of certain parties, the junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, said at a meeting with the Election Commission Chairman and Chief Ministers of the regions and states, that “political parties should learn from the lessons that they must prepare systematically and act before the election.”

Meanwhile, party members said the junta’s political party registration law enacted during the registration period placed political parties in a difficult position. The junta issued the new Political Party Registration Law on 26 January 2023, making registration mandatory for all political parties.

The law stipulates that a party that organizes nationwide (union-level party) must show a fund of 100 million MMK when applying for registration, and must recruit at least 100,000 members within 90 days, and must open offices in half of all townships within 180 days.

Under the same law, regional and state-level political parties are required to show funds of 10 million MMK when applying for registration, recruit at least 1,000 members within 90 days, and establish offices in a minimum of five townships within 180 days.

As a result of these requirements, parties unable to organize nationwide but seeking to operate in more than one state or region were compelled to register separately with the junta under two different party names.

Final election results after the three election phases show that the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) secured 739 seats, including uncontested victories, followed by the National Unity Party (NUP) with 68 seats, the People’s Party with 30 seats, the People’s Pioneer Party (PPP) with 20 seats, the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP/White Tiger) with 39 seats, and the Myanmar Farmers’ Development Party with six seats.

Union Election Commission data show that 91 political parties contested the 2015 general election and 87 parties took part in the 2020 polls. In contrast, only 57 parties participated in the current election, with 26 failing to win any elected seats.