Irrawaddy-Sept 22
Myanmar’s military regime has relaxed key requirements for political parties contesting its upcoming December-January election. The move came weeks after it dissolved four parties for failing to meet registration criteria under the Political Parties Registration Law. The regime amended its rules on Sunday, reducing the number of constituencies national parties must contest from half (417) of the total of 833 constituencies to just one-quarter (209). The change came one day before Monday’s deadline for submitting candidate lists, offering a lifeline to parties struggling to field candidates amid serious security and logistical challenges. A total of 61 parties initially registered to contest the polls, with nine planning to run nationwide and the remaining 52 looking to compete in regional or state constituencies. However, on Sept. 9, the regime dissolved four parties—the National Democratic Force (NDF), the Democratic Party of National Politics (DNP), the Women Party (Mon), and the Union Farmer-Labor Force Party—for failing to meet minimum membership and office requirements. Observers say the last-minute adjustment was aimed at preventing further disqualifications among the six remaining national parties, which could have undermined the credibility of the election. Ethnic armed organizations and resistance forces have rejected the junta’s election plan and urged the public to boycott the polls, which they view as a sham designed to entrench military rule. Much of the international community has dismissed it for the same reason. Read more at:
