CNI News
1 August 2025
If a candidate ran the election for the position of Minister of Ethnic Affairs from under a mainland party, he would not be able to freely present or discuss ethnic issues, Lisu National Development Party (Dulei Party) Chairman U Li Paw Re told CNI News.
If ethnic parties want to contest for the position of Minister of Ethnic Affairs, they should use the People's Pioneer Party (PPP) to contest, said the party chairperson Dr. Thet Thet Khaing at a press conference on July 27.
"Since the PPP is a party that can compete nationwide, there may be many vacancies for the ethnic affairs representative positions. The party will need many ethnic candidates to compete from that party in Kachin State, Sagaing Region, Shan State, Rakhine State, Mon State, and Kayin State. We won't send a candidate of ours to that party to be elected for the position of ethnic affairs minister. But we might send our candidate to an allied ethnic party of ours. It seems to be convenient for mainland parties to be elected in the ethnic territories. If an ethnic candidate from a mainland party runs the election for the post of minister for ethnic affairs, he or she will be under the influence of that party. They might not have the rights to freedom of presentation or discussion." said U Li Paw Reh.
While the People's Party Chairman U Ko Ko Gyi was speaking
The PPP is a party that will run the election in the whole country and since it has a lot of vacancies for the position of ethnic affairs minister, it possibly is inviting like that, he said.
" There are two Karen parties in Karen State and a Karen party in Ayeyarwady Region. Lots of Karen people live in Yangon, Bago, Tanintharyi, Ayeyarwady Regions, Mon and Karen States where candidates can contest for the position of Karen ethnic affairs minister. But Karen parties have registered in Karen State and Ayeyarwady Region only, so it might be difficult for the Karen parties to contest in other states and Regions for the post of ethnic affairs minister. That's why we are inviting ethnic parties to contest from our party, using our party platform." said the PPP party chairperson Dr. Thet Thet Khaing.
While seeing members of ethnic parties
The SAC chairman and the UEC have said that elections will be held in phases in December 2025 and January 2026.
However, there has been a decrease in the number of candidates who will run the election except for the party leaders due to security issues, pointed out political analysts. So, reports are emerging that campaigns are being conducted, urging residents of wards and villages to run the election.
Currently, the SAC issued the Sixth Amendment to the Election Law for the Pyithu Hluttaw, Amyotha Hluttaw, and Regional or State Hluttaws on July 29, 2025.
The PPP Chairperson Dr. Thet Thet Khaing
According to that law, Amyotha Hluttaw will be under the FPTP system and Region or State Hluttaw, under the PR system. Which system will be used for the Pyithu Hluttaw is not mentioned in the law.
Although the Union Election Commission has said that elections will be held in 267 townships, it is unlikely to hold elections in all these townships, pointed out military and political analysts.
