CNI News

30 Mar 2023

A low turnout is expected in the upcoming elections because the National League for Democracy and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy will not run for election, Political Observer U Ye Tun told the CNI.

Moreover, the security for political parties and candidates to run for election held by the State Administration Council is worrisome and they will not be able to campaign for votes comprehensively, he added.

NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

He said, "The NLD and the SNLD were the major parties that won most seats in the previous elections. They garnered the most votes. The SNLD enjoyed the largest support in Shan State while the NLD won the most votes in the entire country. So, the turnout is likely to be low. Under the current circumstances, the security for political parties and candidates is worrisome and they will not be able to campaign for votes comprehensively. The new government that will emerge from the upcoming elections will not be recognized by the people and the international community, especially by the US and the West."

The Union Election Commission announced on 28th March that 40 political parties including the NLD and the SNLD had been dissolved.

The SAC enacted a new political parties registration law, which requires political parties to re-register within 60 days.

Forty political parties decided not to re-register and were dissolved by the commission on 28th March.

a Union Election Commission Office.

In a democracy, elections must be held without fail and whether elections can be held properly or not is an important question, Director U Thein Tun Oo of the Institute for Strategic Studies told the CNI.

He said, "If democracy is to be exercised, we will have to go through elections without fail. So, the success of elections depends mainly on the turnout and whether they are held properly or not. I think if the SAC is able to hold elections and transfer power to the winning party, it will be able to perform its duties successfully. So, what is important is how smooth the process is.

Dissolved political parties are likely to join the political process when elections are free, fair and inclusive, U Ye Tun said.

He said, "Looking back at their histories, they are worried about losing public support if they cooperate with the military under politically unfair circumstances. They think it will be beneficial for them to join the political process when elections are free, fair and inclusive."

The SAC chairman said a general election would be held in 2023 and promised to transfer power to the winning party.