A ceremony of remarks on observation by international election observers who monitored Phase I of the multiparty democratic general election held in 102 townships on 28 December 2025 took place at the Jasmine Nay Pyi Taw Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning, with an address by Chairman of the Union Election Commission U Than Soe.
Also
present at the ceremony were UEC member U Myo Hlaing, deputy ministers,
election observation delegations led by Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of
Russia Mr Sholban Kara-Ool, Central Election Commission member of Russian Mr
Igor Borisov, Special Envoy for Asian Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Mr Deng Xijun, Ms Chen Xuanbo from the International Department
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Deputy Chairman of
the Election Commission of Kazakhstan Mr Yerman Mukhtar, member of the
Cambodian Election Commission Mr Yich Samethy, Head of International Relations
of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Mr Nguyen Duc Thinh, Mr Mario Jose
Armengol Campos from Nicaragua, Retired Maj-Gen Mr Sahni Arun Kumar of India
and Mr Yusuke Watanabe of the Japan-Myanmar Association, directors-general of
the relevant ministries, and officials from the UEC Office and guests.
Speaking
on the occasion, the UEC Chairman said that the Acting President of the
Republic of the Union of Myanmar and State Security and Peace Commission
Chairman expressed his pleasure and gratitude for being able to visit and
observe the election process. The UEC Chairman emphasized that holding the
election is crucial for forming the respective Hluttaws, and through the
Hluttaws, assigning responsibilities to the President, Vice-President,
administrative bodies, and union-level organizations appointed by the
President, thereby enabling the government to carry out its duties. It is
therefore important that the election is conducted fully and in accordance with
the law.
The
2025 multiparty democratic general election marks an important milestone for
the nation. The role of the observers who participated in monitoring the
election process for correctness, integrity, and credibility is extremely
significant. Their participation has highlighted the importance of
transparency, freedom, fairness, and collaborative coordination in the
democratic process. Their observations and recommendations will strengthen
public confidence and contribute to the further development and flourishing of
the democratic system.
Myanmar’s
foreign policy is independent, active, and non-aligned. It is based on the
principles of global peace and maintaining friendly relations with other
nations. On this foundation, it will be possible to promote and strengthen
cooperation through mutual understanding and goodwill between countries.
The
UEC Chairman expressed his delight and was deeply grateful for the sincere
support and steadfast friendship of the observation teams toward Myanmar. Their
encouragement reflects true camaraderie and brotherhood. Not only will the
governments of their countries and Myanmar continue to maintain strong
relations, but the ties between the peoples of both countries will also remain
as enduring bonds of friendship.
The
UEC Chairman invited them to openly and transparently share their observations
and comments regarding their election monitoring experience. By receiving their
perspectives, the commission will be able to identify ways to carry out future
activities even more effectively.
Election
observers from the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China, the
Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and Cambodia gave their remarks
on the election observation process.
Mr
Sholban Kara-Ool, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation
Distinguished
Chairman of the Union Election Commission of Myanmar, officials, and
international guests, yesterday, we observed the election of the Republic of
the Union of Myanmar held in collaboration with international election
observation teams. Our delegation included not only representatives from
political parties in Russia but also representatives from the Election
Commission. They have experience studying elections not only in Myanmar but
also in other countries on multiple occasions. We have also shared the
experiences of our team members. Therefore, we are here to observe Myanmar’s
election by comparing it with our own experiences. During our observation
yesterday, we clearly saw the efforts and dedication of the Myanmar Election
Commission. This work is definitely not easy, and it is evident that they are
truly putting in a lot of effort. While we were observing, we noticed that
voters were using electronic voting machines. According to officials, these
machines are fully protected against any external electronic interference, and
we could see that these machines were functioning properly and reliably. No
signs of outside disruption were observed. Using these machines ensures that the
election results are genuine and credible. The use of electronic voting
machines in this election is a real advantage. From what we observed, these
machines greatly reduced the time required for voting compared to previous
elections. The voting process was faster, and voters were organized in long,
orderly lines, participating actively and happily. We also saw that the staff
members of the Union Election Commission were serving their duties attentively
and energetically. Yesterday, we exchanged brief greetings with voters and
asked a few questions. All of them were enthusiastic and showed genuine
interest in the election. They said they were preparing to vote actively and
happily. We also observed that party representatives monitoring the election
were performing their duties carefully. Some voters were even waiting at
polling stations with their family members, which reflects a true sense of
communal participation. Seeing this, we feel that the public has confidence in
the election and in its security measures. Therefore, I would like to express
my pride and satisfaction regarding the election. We, as the Russian
delegation, are proud of the successful conduct of the election and the
dedication of those responsible for ensuring its smooth operation and full
security. Therefore, we believe that both the organizers of the election and
the participating citizens will achieve the stability, peace, development, and
success they desire. The diligent and lawful efforts made in conducting the
election are not to be forgotten. I am confident that those responsible are
carrying out their duties with great care. In conclusion, I would like to
express that we are pleased and proud of the Election Commission staff for
their dedicated efforts, the sincere commitment of Myanmar’s leaders to the
election, and the strong enthusiasm of the people. We convey our heartfelt
congratulations on the successful conduct of phase 1 of the election.
Mr
Igor Borisov, Member of the Central Election Commission of the Russian
Federation
Distinguished
friends attending the ceremony, Mingalaba! Our delegation leader has already
shared a very comprehensive view of the election being held in Myanmar, and I
would like to add a few of my own observations. The already-conducted election
is transparent and in accordance with the law, and I would like to express our
gratitude for that. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of those responsible, we
had the opportunity to observe the election closely. We were able to speak with
some of the voters and also visit polling stations to interact with the staff
of the Union Election Commission. We learned about the operation of the
Electronic Voting Machines as well. We would like to commend the organizers for
arranging both the election process for our observation and the use of the
electronic voting machines. From the legal framework to the organization of the
election, the security measures, and the active work of the staff, we, as the
Russian Election Commission, can confidently declare that this is a
high-standard, transparent, and well-conducted election. I would like to add
that this election was conducted in an orderly manner, and we did not observe
any opponents of the election or those trying to derail the democratic path. In
the early stages before the election, there were some attempts on the internet
to spread news aimed at disrupting the election. We are well aware that
Myanmar’s election was targeted through information technology attacks. However,
both the Election Commission and the citizens successfully overcame these
challenges, ensuring that the election process could proceed smoothly along the
democratic path. I also want to emphasize again the support from the Head of
State of Myanmar and the active participation of the people, which made it
possible to successfully carry out the election. Finally, I would like to note
that if Myanmar needs assistance regarding electoral matters, we are ready to
provide support.
Mr
Deng Xijun, Special Envoy for Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of China
On
behalf of our country, I would like to express our gratitude for inviting us to
come and observe. We are especially pleased and honoured to have had the
opportunity, over the past three days, to study how Myanmar is organizing and
conducting its election. We are particularly grateful to the Myanmar Election
Commission for inviting and granting us this observation opportunity. Notably,
the successful conduct of these elections reflects the agreements and
cooperative efforts between Myanmar’s Acting President Senior General Min Aung
Hlaing and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Myanmar and China have been
collaborating on many initiatives, and China continues to provide substantial
support to Myanmar. Yesterday, we visited six polling stations in Nay Pyi Taw. From
my observations, everything appeared to be well-organised and running smoothly.
Specifically, the preparation and arrangement of the polling stations were
systematic, and we saw voters participating actively. At the last polling
station, even about an hour before closing, people were still lined up and
waiting to cast their votes. We observed that the staff responsible for the
election were performing their duties accurately and efficiently. They were
carefully verifying voters’ ID cards and information, working with patience and
diligence. The first part of this election is proceeding smoothly and
peacefully. Since it has been successful, we believe that Phases II and III can
also be conducted successfully. We also noticed that voters have expectations that
after the election, their lives will improve, the economy will get better, and
in some areas, conflicts will decrease, leading to greater peace and stability.
This election is an internal affair for Myanmar, and from China’s perspective,
it is successful. We believe it will contribute to national reconciliation and
coexistence. China and Myanmar maintain good, friendly, and cooperative
relations. We are always ready to assist Myanmar and are committed to
supporting initiatives that foster development between the two countries.
Therefore, we hope that this election will contribute to the economic and
social development of Myanmar through collaborative efforts.
Mr
Alexei Bashan, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the
Republic of Belarus
On
28 December 2025, as part of the Belarusian delegation, we came as observers to
study and monitor how the elections of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar are
being conducted. The first thing I noticed is that the Election Commission’s
operational capacity is highly organized and of excellent quality. Every effort
has been made at the designated polling stations to ensure that citizens can
vote freely and securely. Ensuring such security is extremely important for
each polling station. We observed that many voters personally came to cast
their votes to make their own choices and decide their future. This is very
positive because young people and family members were actively participating,
showing genuine interest and respect for the process. Today, we noticed that
citizens are making every effort to elect representatives to the parliament.
These elected representatives will later form a government and continue to
build the nation. We observed that the people of Myanmar are actively
participating because they want to personally determine their own destiny. This
is particularly impressive and a source of great pride. We also noticed that
there were no violations of the law, and the innovative use of electronic
voting machines highlights a modern approach to voting. This technology speeds
up the process and eliminates delays. There were no long lines of voters;
everything was simple, fast, and efficient. We are especially pleased that
necessary preparations, including initial training for polling station staff
and voters, were carried out in advance. Citizens of all ages came on time to
vote with confidence. Overall, seeing smiles on the faces of voters indicates
their trust and belief in their future. Thank you.
Mr
Shpakouski Aliaksandr, Member of Parliament of Belarus
The
leaders of the Parliamentary Committee on Cooperation with the Republic of the
Union of Myanmar arrived in Myanmar on 24 December and today visited three
polling stations in the city. At present, conditions are peaceful and calm, and
every measure has been taken to ensure that citizens can freely express their
will. Elections are the only legitimate path in the political process, and we
believe they provide fair competition in establishing authority and convening
the Hluttaw. Concrete steps are being taken for dialogue and cross-party
consensus. Political groups that refuse to participate in society are removing
themselves from the legal framework and pursuing paths inconsistent with the
constitutional framework. Such groups are undermining election activities in
certain areas to prevent the proper conduct of the electoral process. We
believe that, based on the results of the Hluttaw elections, lawful governing
bodies can be formed in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Belarus is always
ready to assist and support in this process. Over the past four years, the
Myanmar government has achieved successes in addressing domestic political
issues. Although challenges remain, Belarus remains prepared to provide
necessary political support to our friends in Myanmar, and the presence of
Belarusian observers is part of this commitment. This serves as a testament
that our leaders support Myanmar’s goal of peace and the stable and secure
development of its territory.
Mr
Yerman Mukhtar, Deputy Chairman of the Election Commission of Kazakhstan
First
of all, I would like to extend my greetings to all the distinguished guests who
are here this event. I would like to begin by stating that all the guests
present here will play an important role in building close diplomatic relations
between Myanmar and Kazakhstan. I am the Deputy Chairman of the Election
Commission of Kazakhstan. The main purpose of our delegation’s visit is to
observe and study the elections being held in Myanmar, to further strengthen
and continue diplomatic cooperation between our two countries, and to discuss
matters of mutual interest. I would also like to express my sincere
appreciation to the Myanmar Election Commission for their warm welcome and for
creating the best possible conditions for our observation mission. Since our
arrival, we have received a great deal of relevant information regarding the elections
conducted in Myanmar, both in Yangon and in Nay Pyi Taw. In particular, the
speech delivered by the Chairman of the Myanmar Election Commission enabled us
to gain a clear understanding of all the processes being carried out by the
Commission and the technological aspects that will be used in the elections. We
observed that the elections in Myanmar involve truly practical and genuinely
competitive electoral processes. We are also considering applying the positive
practices and valuable information we observed here in our own country. I would
like to share a few of my observations regarding the elections. Conducting an
election within a single day is indeed a very large and demanding task. In
doing so, we were able to see one of the challenging aspects faced by the
Election Commission. Bringing together and managing large numbers of people in
a single day is extremely difficult. We also observed that, in carrying out the
elections, not only the Election Commission but also representatives from the
respective political parties came to observe and that all parties were
cooperating in the process. Another point we observed is that the voter lists
have been prepared very carefully and systematically. At the respective polling
stations, arrangements have been made so that all voters can easily find their
names on the lists. In addition, voters are able to check their names not only
on the posted voter list boards but also in the register upon arrival at the
polling station, sign their names, and then proceed to the voting booth to cast
their ballots by secret vote. We also observed that voting machines were used
at polling stations in a thorough and highly effective manner. Voters
participated actively and cast their ballots enthusiastically. Furthermore, we
noted that journalists from both domestic and international media were
gathering news on the election process, and that state-owned media were also
reporting on and broadcasting the elections. One particularly important point
is that a large number of young people were among those casting ballots. This
demonstrates that, with strong youth participation in the electoral process,
Myanmar’s young people hold great hope and expectations for the country’s
future. In addition, I would like to state that we are ready to further
strengthen and expand diplomatic relations between our two countries. In
conclusion, I wish the elections in Myanmar every success and a smooth
completion. Thank you all.
Mr
Yich Samethy, Member of Election Commission in Cambodia
On
behalf of the Election Commission of Cambodia, I would like to express my
sincere appreciation for the opportunity to visit and observe. Yesterday, when
I visited the polling stations in Nay Pyi Taw, I would like to share the
following observations. First, I observed that the preparation and conduct of
the polling stations were extremely well organized, complete, and peaceful.
Voters were able to participate in the election in an orderly manner,
exercising their democratic rights without any external interference,
obstruction, sabotage, or intimidation. Secondly, all officials on duty at the
polling stations were carrying out the voting, vote-counting, and overall
electoral processes properly and thoroughly in accordance with the prescribed
laws and regulations. Another key point is transparency. Throughout the entire
voting process, it was conducted openly and transparently. The opening and closing
of polling stations, voting, and vote counting were all carried out carefully
with the participation of all relevant stakeholders, including state
authorities. We observed that political parties, as well as international
election observers and the media, were also able to participate and cooperate
throughout the process. Fourth, by using Myanmar’s electronic voting machines,
voters were able to cast their ballots in a way that made both voting and vote
counting faster and more accurate than before. In addition, we observed that
voters coming to cast their ballots had a good understanding of how to use the
voting machines. Fifth, we also found that not only were voters able to vote at
polling stations in a safe and secure environment, but appropriate and reliable
security arrangements were also in place for polling station staff. Sixth, we
did not observe any irregularities or misconduct of any kind. In addition to
the absence of such issues, we found that the election was conducted smoothly
and effectively, with no instances of improper procedures. Furthermore, polling
stations were easily accessible for all voters, and the voting process was
convenient and well organized. As a result, we observed that this election
process was comprehensive and carried out with full accountability. In
conclusion, in accordance with the invitation of the Government of Myanmar, we
came to observe the 2025 general election and visited numerous polling stations
during our observation. At the polling stations we observed, the elections were
conducted calmly and properly in accordance with the law and relevant
regulations, and were carried out in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
Moreover, as we did not observe any irregularities whatsoever, we found that
the entire election process was sound, credible, and able to gain broad public
trust. Therefore, we hope that future stages of the elections will also be
conducted as smoothly and effectively as at this stage. We would also like to
express our gratitude for the invitation. As the year 2026 approaches, we wish
all colleagues and distinguished guests a happy and prosperous New Year. Thank
you.
The
UEC Chairman spoke words of appreciation.
MNA/TTA
#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar
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