‘We will vote but not with our hearts’: Inside the election staged by Myanmar’s military rulers

Myanmar’s military junta is proceeding with an election, a move met with widespread international condemnation and skepticism. This marks the first electoral process to occur since the army seized power in a coup in early 2021. Observers and critics are labeling the upcoming vote as a fabricated event, designed to legitimize the military’s continued rule rather than reflect the genuine will of the people. The context of the coup, which overthrew a democratically elected government, casts a long shadow over the legitimacy of any electoral exercise conducted under the junta’s control. The ongoing political instability and suppression of dissent further fuel doubts about the fairness and transparency of the planned election. Consequently, the international community is largely viewing this election not as a step towards restoring democracy, but as a performative act by the military to consolidate its power.