The leader of the military council, Min Aung Hlaing, has announced that elections will only be held at the end of this year or in January 2026, marking five years since the military coup. This statement was made during a press conference following his meeting with the President of Belarus on March 7. He specifically stated that they are planning to hold elections at the earliest in December 2025 or January 2026.
According to military sources in Naypyidaw, Min Aung Hlaing has repeatedly mentioned in meetings his intention to hold elections within 2026, planning to serve a full five-year term as the head of the caretaker government. Sources also indicate that he frequently mentions his continued good health and willingness to serve additional terms if the country ‘needs’ him, suggesting his intention to maintain a role in politics even after the planned elections.
During the press conference in Belarus, the military council leader announced that 53 political parties have registered to participate in their planned election. However, analysts both within Myanmar and internationally point out that the military council’s planned election is disconnected from the will of the people and appears to be merely an attempt to legitimize the military dictatorship. The planned election has been widely criticized as a mechanism designed to entrench military rule rather than restore genuine democratic governance to the country.
