The leader of the military council, Min Aung Hlaing, while in Belarus, announced that elections would only be held at the end of this year or in January 2026, after completing five years since the military coup. He made this announcement during a press conference following his meeting with the President of Belarus on March 7. The military council leader stated that they are planning to hold elections at the earliest in December 2025 or January 2026.
According to military sources in Naypyidaw cited by the Yangon Modern News Agency, Min Aung Hlaing plans to serve a full five-year term as the caretaker government leader. He frequently mentions in meetings that depending on his health condition and the country’s needs, he could continue serving for another term. The military source indicates that he intends to remain involved in political processes even after the elections. During his press conference in Belarus, Min Aung Hlaing revealed that 53 political parties have registered for the military-planned elections.
However, political analysts point out that since these elections will be held under military council control, they cannot be considered free and fair. The military council has been forcefully maintaining power against the will of the people since seizing control on February 1, 2021. The planned elections are viewed as an attempt to legitimize their continued grip on power rather than a genuine democratic process. The military council has consistently suppressed opposition voices and maintained strict control over political activities throughout the country, making it impossible for truly representative elections to take place under their administration.
