Military-backed party secures Myanmar election win with opposition excluded

Official of the Union Election Commission prepares to close a polling station after the votes are counted, during the final round of general election in Mandalay, central Myanmar, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Of the country’s total 330 townships, 67 — mostly areas controlled by armed opposing groups — did not participate, reducing the original seats in the 664-member national parliament to 586. A senior official of the USDP told The Associated Press on Monday that the party won 57 seats of the 61 total in the lower house that were contested in the final phase held on Sunday.