Union Election Commission ‘threatens’ candidates with criminal prosecution for ‘insults’ or ‘defamation’

The regime’s Union Election Commission (UEC) states that insulting or defaming rival political parties, or candidates, during the electoral process could be considered a malpractice and even a criminal offence.

Than Soe, the UEC chairperson, said this to representatives from 57 political parties at a meeting in the capital Naypyidaw on Monday.

An independent candidate running in the regime’s 2025-26 elections told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the UEC chairperson made indirect threats against candidates for criticizing the military-proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which won 88 out of 96 seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw, or lower house of parliament, during the first phase of voting on Dec. 28

The UEC announced on Jan. 5 that the USDP also won 10 out of 18 seats in the Amyotha Hluttaw, or upper house of parliament, based on preliminary election results. Six million out of over 11 million voters cast their ballots on Dec. 28, according to the UEC, which added that official results will be announced after the final phase of voting concludes on Jan. 25.