Myanmar’s Sham Election: Why the Junta Wants It—and What Comes Next – Panel Discussion

Mizzima

Independent Myanmar media and Thai PBS held a collaborative media monitoring event in Chiang Mai, Thailand focused on the Myanmar junta elections on 28 December.

This event allowed regional and international journalists to engage with Myanmar’s media professionals, civil society organizations (CSOs), academics, and political experts in gaining a fuller appreciation for the significance of the election and what it means for both Myanmar and the international community.

The 2025/2026 General Election is widely seen as an attempt by the Myanmar junta to legitimize their control and ensure that their preferred candidate(s) win under the guise of a democratic system. The election, though flawed in many respects, will still serve as an important barometer for the political health of the country and the democratic aspirations of Myanmar’s people. Not to mention an indication of any legitimacy conferred upon the junta and subsequent government.

Moreover, vast swaths of the country lie outside junta control, while people throughout Myanmar and from all walks of life stand opposed to the polling, which they assess to be a “sham” that will permit the military to legitimize its control over the country under a civilian façade.

The following is the first of a handful of panel discussions held at the Thai PBS studio in Chiang Mai.