Myanmar to hold by-elections in April next year... Includes some civil war areas

The Myanmar government has decided to hold parliamentary by-elections in dozens of constituencies across the country, including civil war areas, in April next year.

According to the state media 'Myanmar Alin' on the 6th (local time), Myanmar's Election Commission announced that it will hold by-elections in 55 constituencies across the country on April 4th next year.

This election is held to fill vacancies created by the resignation of lawmakers who held key government positions, such as ministers, after being elected in the last general election.

Additionally, some constituencies in northern Sagaing State, northwestern Chin State, and eastern Shan State, where voting was impossible in the last general election due to civil war, were also included in the election area. At least seven of these constituencies are in areas recently captured by government forces from rebels.

However, the western state of Rakhine, where government forces and the ethnic rebel Arakan Army (AA) are fiercely contested, was excluded from the election area.

Previously, from December last year to January this year, Myanmar's military regime held general elections in 692 constituencies nationwide, excluding 121 constituencies outside of government control.

The last general election, the first held since the military coup in February 2021, was virtually a formality in which most opposition parties, including democratic forces, were not allowed to participate.

Here, the pro-military political party United Development and Unity Party (USDP) won a landslide victory, taking control of about 84% of the total seats, and Supreme Commander Min Aung Hlaing, who was the head of the military regime, took off his military uniform and was inaugurated as a civilian president in April.

The AFP news agency reported that this by-election plan means that Myanmar government forces, which have recently been on the offensive against rebels with support from China and other countries, are increasingly confident in their ability to control territory.

Since taking office, President Min Aung Hlaing has been rushing to return to the international community by visiting India, China, Laos, Thailand, Russia, Vietnam, and Malaysia one after another and holding summit meetings.