Myanmar’s Wartime Polls: Managing Expectations

Urgent Call to Reject Myanmar’s Sham 2025 Election and Stand for Regional Stability

Open letter to: H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN H.E. Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Chair of ASEAN 2025 H.E. Tan Sri Othman Hashim, the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar H.E. Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, Minister of Foreign Affairs II of Brunei Darussalam H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambod…

Myanmar’s Wartime Polls: Managing Expectations

Myanmar’s junta is planning wartime elections in December 2025 and January 2026. Externally and internally, perspectives on the polls vary dramatically. The difference in views are facilitated by numerous ambiguities, including in the design and likely outcomes of the polls. Well-established benchmarks from political science help clarify the limits of the exercise, what to expect if it proceeds, and implications for stakeholders. In short, the l…