Elections in Burma

Elections in Burma are a rarity. Burma is led by a military junta known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Opposition parties are banned, but exist illegally. Prior to the military take over, multi-party elections were held in 1951–1952, 1956 and 1960.

When Ne Win's one party rule system – the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) – collapsed in August 1988 following the 8888 Uprising, the military staged another coup d'etat the following September, stating that they were going to hold "free and fair" elections in 1990. The first (and to date only) elections to the People's Assembly (Pyithu Hluttaw) under the new military administration, renamed the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), were held on 27 May 1990. The major opposition party, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide victory with a majority of 392 out of the 492 seats; thus, under a parliamentary system, the NLD would form a new government. However, the SLORC refused to acknowledge the results, and as a result the People's Assembly never convened.

2010 campaign

Main article: Burmese general election, 2010

In 2010, the announcement of possible elections sponsored by the current regime attracted international attention. The election commission stated that these would be "free and fair without third party watchdogs".

Latest election

Main article: Burmese general election, 1990

  Summary of the 27 May 1990 Burmese general election results

Party	Votes	%	Seats
National League for Democracy	7,943,622	58.7	392
National Unity Party	2,805,559	21.2	10
Shan Nationalities League for Democracy	222,821	1.7	23
Arakan League for Democracy	160,783	1.2	11
Mon National Democratic Front	138,572	1.0	5
National Democratic Party for Human Rights	128,129	1.0	4
Chin National League for Democracy	51,187	0.4	3
Kachin State National Congress for Democracy	13,994	0.1	3
Party for National Democracy	72,672	0.5	3
Union Poah National Organisation	35,389	0.3	3
Democratic Organisation for Kayan National Unity	16,553	0.1	2
Kayah State Nationalities League for Democracy	11,664	0.1	2
Naga Hills Regional Progressive Party	10,612	0.1	2
Ta-ang (Palaung) National League for Democracy	16,553	0.1	2
Zomi National Congress	18,638	0.1	2
Minor parties and independents	1,606,858	12.1	12
Valid votes:	13,253,606	87.7	492
Invalid votes:	1,858,918	12.3
Turnout:	15,112,524	72.6
Eligible voters:	20,818,313	100
Source: Source: Adam Carr's electoral archive

See also

• Electoral calendar
• Electoral system
• U Ba Htay

External links

• Adam Carr's Election Archive
• Audio Interview with Mr. Kyaw Zwa Moe, managing editor of Irrawady News Media on Burma and Elections