On August 18th, Myanmar’s military junta announced that the country’s first general election since the February 2021 coup will begin on December 28th. The election will mark nearly five years since the military overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking nationwide protests and armed resistance. The Union Election Commission said the vote will be held in multiple phases across December 2025 and January 2026 for security reasons, with the schedule of the second phase to be announced later. The commission described the election as a multi-party democratic vote, covering both national and local legislative bodies. A total of 55 political parties have registered, with nine parties planning to run nationwide. Voting is expected in more than 300 of 330 townships, including some areas controlled by opposition and ethnic armed groups. However, opposition parties and insurgent groups plan to boycott the election in areas under their control. For instance, the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group in western Rakhine State, has declared it will block voting in 14 of 17 townships it controls. Given these circumstances, experts predict that pro-military forces are likely to dominate parliament, while anti-military actors have either been barred from running or refused participation. They also warn that Senior General Min Aung Hlaing may use the election to consolidate his grip on power rather than restore genuine democracy.