Why Military Parties Win Elections in Myanmar

One truth remains constant regarding elections in Myanmar: A military party always wins whenever the pro-democracy party is banned and its leaders are jailed.

This is not cynicism. It is a matter of record—one that the ruling generals have enforced across decades with restrictive laws, lengthy imprisonments and coercive electoral processes.

The first phase of the ruling junta’s 2025 election, held on Dec. 28, is only the latest proof. Even before official results have been fully announced, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and its supporters in pro-regime circles are already celebrating what they hail as a “landslide”.