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 7, where he is currently visiting.
Min Aung Hlaing stated that elections are planned to be held at the earliest in December 2025 or January 2026. The Yangon Modern News Agency, citing military sources in Naypyidaw, had previously reported that the military council was planning to hold their preferred election only in 2026.
According to military sources in Naypyidaw, Min Aung Hlaing frequently mentions in meetings his consideration of holding elections in 2026. The source indicated that he plans to serve a full five-year term as the caretaker government leader. He often states that he is still healthy and could serve another term if the country needs him, suggesting he intends to remain involved in politics even after the elections. The military source noted that Min Aung Hlaing frequently expresses these sentiments during meetings, indicating his intention to maintain a political role beyond the planned elections.
During the press conference in Belarus, Min Aung Hlaing revealed that 53 political parties have registered to participate in the military council’s planned election. However, political analysts point out that the military council’s planned election is disconnected from the will of the people and appears to be an attempt to legitimize the military dictatorship. The announcement comes amid ongoing resistance to military rule across the country, with the planned election being widely viewed as an effort to maintain the military’s grip on power rather than a genuine democratic process.
