CNI News
19 December 2025
As Myanmar prepares to hold an upcoming election, observers are closely watching the level of public interest among people in the Ayeyarwady Region.
According to U Zaw Htun, an independent candidate who will contest in Dedaye Township, Ayeyarwady Region is an area that has chosen not to pursue armed struggle but instead is waiting for a new government to emerge through elections and democratic processes. He told CNI News:
“Ayeyarwady Region is a peaceful area. We do not take the path of armed solutions. In the 26 townships of Ayeyarwady Region, a legislature will re-emerge through democratic means. There is a principle of resolving political issues by forming a government within parliament through elections. This region is simply waiting for the election date so that a new government can emerge again through electoral means. Even when people have national ID cards but find their names missing from the voter list, they are actively applying using Form-3. This is for the country’s future. The public, the Election Commission, township administrators, and the General Administration Department are working together in cooperation.”
Ayeyarwady Region government is being demonstrated how to vote
On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) seized state power after ousting the NLD government, accusing it of attempting to form a government without resolving voter list disputes from the 2020 general election. Since then, a state of emergency has been declared, and the country has been governed under it up to the present year, 2025.
However, U Zaw Way Htet, Secretary of the Ayeyarwady Region branch of the People’s Pioneer Party (PPP), told CNI News that public interest in the election among people in Ayeyarwady Region appears to be quite low.
He said:“Among the public, we do see weak interest in the election. The reason for this is that after going through two previous elections, people observed that candidates were only visible during campaign periods. Once they reached parliament, they were unable to effectively deliver for their voters. Because of that weakness, many people now feel that after elections, nothing really changes. As a result, interest in both the election itself and in parliamentary candidates has declined. At present, voters are facing economic hardship and social difficulties, and this has further reduced their enthusiasm.”
Ayeyarwady Region government is being demonstrated how to vote
He added, however, that interest does increase among some people when parties go and meet them in person to explain their policies. For example, when his party explains that it plans to stabilize commodity prices within 100 days, some members of the public become more interested.
The Myanmar military has announced that Phase (1) of the election will be held on December 28, 2025; Phase (2) on January 11, 2026; and Phase (3) in the final week of January 2026.
The Union Election Commission has also announced that during Phase (1), elections will not be held in Bawmi Village Tract and Magyizin Village Tract in Pathein Township, Ayeyarwady Region. Similarly, during Phase (2), elections will not be held in Kyun Shar Gyi Village Tract and Thit Phyu Village Tract in Thabaung Township.
