Military council leader Min Aung Hlaing has announced that their planned election will only be held at the end of 2025 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 7 during his visit to the country. Min Aung Hlaing explicitly stated that the earliest possible date for holding the election would be December 2025 or January 2026.
Even before this announcement, military sources in Naypyidaw had already indicated plans to postpone the election until 2026. According to these sources, Min Aung Hlaing frequently mentions in meetings his intention to serve a full five-year term as the caretaker government. He has also repeatedly suggested that he could continue serving additional terms, citing his good health and the country’s needs. Sources indicate that he plans to maintain a significant role in politics even after the election.
During the press conference in Belarus, Min Aung Hlaing revealed that 53 political parties have registered to participate in the military-planned election. However, political analysts point out that this election is merely an attempt to legitimize military rule and goes against the will of the people, noting that it cannot lead to genuine democracy. The military council has continued to commit acts of violence against civilians since the coup, and observers assess that conditions do not exist for holding a genuine democratic election. The military council’s ongoing oppression of civilians and forced military service practices further underscore the impossibility of conducting a free and fair election under current circumstances.
