Military council leader 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. He made this announcement during a press conference after meeting with the President of Belarus on March 7th. Min Aung Hlaing stated that the military council is planning to hold elections at the earliest in December 2025 or January 2026.
A military source in Naypyidaw confirmed this information to the Yangon Modern News Agency. According to the source, the military chief has frequently mentioned in meetings his intention to hold elections only in 2026. The source revealed that Min Aung Hlaing plans to serve a full five-year term as the head of the caretaker government. The source also indicated that Min Aung Hlaing often states that he is still healthy and could continue serving another term if the country needs him, suggesting he intends to maintain a political role even after the elections.
During the press conference in Belarus, Min Aung Hlaing announced that 53 political parties have registered to participate in the military-planned elections. However, political analysts point out that these elections are disconnected from the will of the people and are merely designed to perpetuate the military council’s power. Since seizing power on February 1, 2021, the military council has continued to commit acts of violence against civilians, arresting, killing, and torturing people who are fighting for genuine democracy. The military council continues its oppressive actions against the people while maintaining its grip on power through force and intimidation.
