Myanmar’s general election is unfolding not as a moment of collective democratic choice, but as a carefully staged, three-phase process imposed by the military authorities. The country was divided into three regions and the voting was scheduled to take place over three separate days: 28 December 2025, 11 January 2026, and 25 January 2026. The first phase of this electoral process has already taken place.
This phased election is a political strategy. By proceeding with the elections under military rule, the junta seeks to project an image of normalcy and democratic transition, hoping to gain recognition from the international community.
Why, then, must this election not be recognised?
First, this election is nothing more than an attempt by the military to legitimise its rule. In the 2020 general elections, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory, a result the armed forces rejected. Instead, it seized power through the coup of February 2021, detained national leaders, and established the State Administration Council (SAC) as the de facto governing authority. The international community, including the United Nations, does not recognise this military regime as the legitimate representative of the people of Myanmar. An election conducted by an authority that has unlawfully overthrown an elected government cannot be recognised as an expression of the popular will.
Second, due to civil war and repression, conditions for a free and secure election simply do not exist. Nearly half of the population is effectively unable to vote, as widespread violence, displacement, and fear have made meaningful participation impossible.
Under military rule, more than 7,000 civilians have been killed, and millions have been displaced and forced to flee from their homes. The economy has suffered devastating damage, and humanitarian assistance remains critically insufficient. Moreover, people’s living conditions have deteriorated further due to the major earthquake in March 2025 and the reduction of international aid. According to the United Nations Development Programme, the urban poverty rate in Yangon reached 43 per cent in 2023, a dramatic increase from 10 per cent in 2017.
This assessment is underscored by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) itself, which has stated clearly that an end to violence and inclusive political dialogue must precede any election. To tolerate rule by the military authorities is to strip people of hope and to accelerate the risk of state collapse.
Third, there is a serious threat of surveillance and coercion through electronic voting systems. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has warned that electronic voting and artificial intelligence-based surveillance could be used to identify and retaliate against opponents of the military regime. Under a system that does not allow blank or invalid ballots, voters’ freedom of expression is severely undermined.
Fourth, the outcome of this election is effectively predetermined in favour of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). The NLD has been forcibly dissolved, and there is no genuine and independent opposition. Even if a nominal transfer of power were to take place, it is evident that firm military control would continue.
Fifth, recognising this election as a legitimate democratic process would directly contradict the Article 33 resolution adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The ILO Commission of Inquiry concluded that the Myanmar military authorities have committed grave and ongoing violations of freedom of association (Convention No. 87) and forced labour (Convention No. 29). At the 113th session of the International Labour Conference, an Article 33 resolution — only the third in ILO history — was adopted, calling on governments, employers, and workers to review their relations with the military authorities. To recognise this election would be nothing less than an act of legitimising the military regime.
The ITUC-Asia Pacific strongly condemns the actions of the military authorities, who for many years have oppressed the people of Myanmar and trampled on democracy. Beyond the erosion of democratic rights, the military’s pursuit of total control has also fuelled wider regional instability. Scam centres, human trafficking, methamphetamine and opium production, money laundering, and the rise of undocumented cross-border migration have all intensified under military rule, as documented by various United Nations (UN) agencies. Despite repeated warnings and proposed solutions from the UN and ASEAN, the military authorities have chosen repression and now seek to legitimise their rule through an election.
For these reasons, this election is a so-called “sham election” that lacks any democratic legitimacy. We strongly urge the international community and governments around the world not to recognise this election or its results.
Some countries may choose to accept the election results, describe them as a “transition to civilian rule,” and strengthen economic ties. It is also true that some people, exhausted by prolonged repression and struggle, may feel compelled to accept the election as unavoidable.
Even so, the ITUC-Asia Pacific will continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar who continue to fight for a governance based on hope rather than fear, and for a democracy founded on inclusion rather than exclusion. We remain committed to working with our colleagues in Myanmar towards making that vision a reality.
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