Irrawaddy-Jan 7
The Myanmar military’s proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has secured the majority of parliamentary seats in Rakhine and Chin states, after benefiting from advance votes and proportional representation (PR) tallies in elections held under heavy restrictions. In Rakhine State, where voting was only held in three of 17 townships, the USDP won 19 seats. The regime was only able to organize elections in Manaung Township and urban areas in Sittwe and Kyaukphyu; the 14 other townships are now controlled by the ethnic Arakan Army. The three townships saw first-past-the-post (FPTP) contests with the USDP securing two of three seats in the Lower House (Pyithu Hluttaw), while the Rakhine Nationalities Party (RNP) took one. In the Upper House (Amyotha Hluttaw), the USDP again claimed two seats, with the Arakan Front Party (AFP) winning one. In the Rakhine State Assembly, the USDP secured two seats and the AFP one. When seats for all of Rakhine State were allocated under the PR system based on results from those three townships, the USDP got nine of 17 seats in the Rakhine State Assembly, with the RNP and AFP each taking four. Despite elections being held in only about 20 percent of Rakhine and Chin territory—most of which remains under resistance control—the results mean the regime is set to form “elected” state governments and assemblies through its proxy party and military appointees, who hold 25 percent of seats in the national and sub-national legislatures. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/politics/usdp-wins-majority-of-seats-in-rakhine-chin-on-back-of-advance-ballots.html
