Narinjara News, 9 March 2023

At least 17 political parties have applied for registration under the Myanmar Union Election Commission (UEC)following a new registration lawwas framed by the military council for the interested parties.

The new law was enacted on 26 January, where it was said that the political parties must apply forregistration within 60 days if they intendto participate in elections. Failure to register within the deadline will result in automaticdisqualification of those political parties.

Political analyst U Than Soe Naing has expressed his concern that the forthcoming election would bemanipulated by the military council chiefsenior general Min Aung Hlaing.

"A free and fair election is almost impossible at this moment. The junta chief will hold the election withan aim to elongate the term of hisregime,” added the analyst.

As of 8 March, the election commission has received applications from Union Solidarity andDevelopment Party (USDP), Federal Democratic Party (FDP), Myanmar People's Democratic Party(MPD), Union Democracy Party (UDP), Pa-O National Organization (PNO), Democratic Forces Labor Party (DFLP), NewDemocracy Party (Kachin), Public Contribute Students Party (PCSP), New National Democracy Party (NNDP), ShanNationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party (PSDP), National Unity Party(NUP), Arakan Front Party (AFP), Kachin State People's Party (KSPP), Wun Thar Nu Party,People's Power Party, and Democratic Party.

Political parties which intend to contest elections across the country must have 100,000 members within 90days of registration and it has to maintainan account of Myanmar Economic Bank with a minimum of Kyats 1,000 lakh. Additionally, those partiesmust open offices in 50% of Myanmar townships within 180 days of registration.

However, the political parties intending to operate regionally have to mobilize at least 10,000 active membersin the concerned region or Stateand establish a bank account with a minimum of Kyats 100 lakh. Moreover, these parties must open partyoffices at least in five townshipswithin their operational area by 180 days of registration.

There were over 90 political parties in Myanmar, but many of the party leaders have decided not to apply forregistration under the new law becauseof various restrictions.