BANGKOK – The election commission appointed by Myanmar’s military has begun declaring winners in the initial phase of the country’s general election, with the military-supported party predictably claiming the majority of seats.

Critics argue that the current electoral process serves merely as a veneer of legitimacy for the military regime. They contend that the elections are neither free nor fair due to the exclusion of major political parties and the government’s crackdown on dissent. In response, opposition groups have urged voters to boycott the polls.

According to the military government, over 6 million people—approximately 52% of the more than 11 million eligible voters in the first election phase held on December 28—participated, which they hailed as a significant turnout.

The Union Election Commission (UEC) reported in the government-run Myanma Alinn newspaper on Saturday that the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) secured 38 seats in the 330-seat Pyithu Hluttaw lower house. However, results for many seats from the December 28 election are still pending.

Additionally, the USDP’s leader, Khin Yi, was announced as the winning candidate for his district in the capital, Naypyitaw. Khin Yi, a former general and police chief, is known to be a close associate of the military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. He reportedly secured 49,006 out of 68,681 votes cast.

The Shan Nationalities Democratic Party and the Mon Unity Party got one seat each, according to the UEC statement.

Saturday’s announcement was still a partial result, but the USDP’s leaders were convinced of success for the first phase.

A senior official of the USDP told The Associated Press on Saturday that the party has won 88 seats of the total 102 contested in the first phase.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release information, said the party ran unopposed in 29 constituencies, facing no challengers or rivals.

Myanmar has a two-house national legislature, totaling 664 seats. The party with a combined parliamentary majority can select the new president, who can name a Cabinet and form a new government. The military automatically receives 25% of seats in each house under the constitution.

The USDP official said the party also won 85% of contested seats in regional legislatures, though complete results will only be known after the second or third phases.

Voting is taking place in three phases due to ongoing armed conflicts, with the first round held on Dec. 28 in 102 townships, nearly a third of Myanmar’s 330 townships. The remaining phases will take place on Jan. 11 and Jan. 25, but 65 townships won’t participate because of the fighting.

While more than 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are competing for seats in national and regional legislatures, only six parties are competing nationwide with the possibility of gaining political clout in parliament. The USDP is by far the strongest contender.

Military rule began when soldiers ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. It blocked her National League for Democracy party from serving a second term despite winning a landslide victory in the 2020 election.

The NLD was dissolved in 2023, along with 39 other parties, after refusing to officially register under the new military rules.

The takeover triggered widespread popular opposition that has grown into a civil war.