CNI News
16 May 2025
Regional and state-based political parties are required by law to open offices in five townships, and if they fail to do so, questions are being raised about whether they are still allowed to contest elections.
The SAC issued the new Political Parties Registration Law on January 26, 2023.
The law states that parties competing in their regions or states must organize 1,000 party members within 90 days and open party branches in at least five townships.
Currently, battles are severely taking place across the country and political parties are finding it difficult to open office branches in the townships in States and Regions, that have been controlled by armed groups.
While 32 political parties were meeting on May 12, 2025
Parties that cannot open offices in the five townships may find it difficult to register legally and one possible solution to this dilemma is to allow them to open offices by changing locations, Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), told CNI News.
"According to that law, parties that cannot open offices in 5 townships will have difficulty registering legally. According to the original law, the number of party members for a Union Party must be 100,000, and the total number of offices must be 110, I think. But now SAC has reduced that number. However, it is still confirmed that parties representing states or regions must have 1,000 members. If it is difficult to open an office in an area designated by law, one possibility is whether they will allow you to change the location. If that's so, the regions where are based by the parties applying for registration will have to be changed. For example, a party based in Kayah will not be based in Kayah. How will the UEC discuss the purpose of the parties' formation? I think everyone will be interested in this." he said.
The UEC announced on April 8, 2025 that those who want to apply for party registration would need to apply on May 9, 2025 at the latest because a multi-party democratic general election will be held in December, 2025.
There are 27 political parties that applied for party registration according to Section-3 of Political Parties Registration Law and 50 parties that have applied for the right to continue to establish and register as political parties under Section 25 of the Political Parties Registration Law, released the UEC.
While the SAC Chairman was meeting with political parties
According to the law, if the number of offices and party members is not reached within the specified time, the party will be declared void, and as such, it will no longer be able to participate in the election, U Myo Set Thway, general secretary of the People's Pioneer Party (PPP), told CNI News.
"According to the law, if the number of offices and party members is not reached within the specified time, the party will be declared void, and as such, it will no longer be able to participate in the election. However, as I just said, whether or not any relaxations and understandings can be made depends on the current government, the SAC. If the SAC allow the parties to temporarily open offices in the townships that are not defined, it might be convenient." he said.
The AA has currently controlled 14 of the 17 townships in Rakhine State. These townships are Thandwe, Gwa, Ann, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Buthidaung,
Kyauktaw, Ponnakyun, Manaung, Pauktaw, Taung Goat, and Myebon. Moreover, revolutionary forces have captured 85 percent of Chin State, said spokesperson of the Chinland Brothers Organization, Salai Yawman at a press conference held on December 23, 2024.
Similarly, in Kayah State, which has 9 townships, the Myanmar Tatmadaw controls only Loikaw township, while the remaining townships are controlled by armed groups.
Political analysts point out that political parties in these regions and states are in a situation where they are unable to open offices in five townships, making it debatable whether they are still allowed to contest elections under the law.
