THE date set for the 2025 multiparty democratic general election is gradually approaching. The Union Election Commission has announced that Part (1) of the election, scheduled for 28 December this year, will cover a total of 102 townships, while Part (2), to be held on 11 January 2026, will include 100 townships.
Under the new electoral system, only the Pyithu Hluttaw will continue to use the previous First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system, while the Amyotha Hluttaw and the Region or State Hluttaws will adopt the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system. In fact, no country in the world has a completely perfect electoral system. Each nation modifies and applies a system that best suits its own circumstances. Similarly, Myanmar has decided to combine the previously used FPTP system with the MMP system for its upcoming elections.
By adopting the MMP system, smaller parties and ethnic parties will be able to gain representation in proportion to the votes they receive. Due to the FPTP system, the major parties will have the highest number of votes to win most of the Hluttaw seats, with dominance in the Hluttaw. With the inclusion of PR in the MMP system, ethnic and smaller parties will be able to secure Hluttaw seats corresponding to the proportion of votes they receive, ensuring that their votes are not wasted and allowing them to participate in the Hluttaw.
Therefore, a greater number of representatives from ethnic and smaller parties are expected to enter the Hluttaw in the upcoming election. So, Hluttaw will provide broader opportunities to express and address the aspirations and needs of various ethnic communities through political and democratic means. Within the Hluttaw, it will become possible to openly discuss, collectively decide upon, and effectively implement matters related to the desires and objectives of different ethnic groups.
As political processes become stronger and political culture improves, the reliance on armed struggle will gradually diminish in the long run. Therefore, the people themselves must wisely choose representatives who prioritize public interests and can effectively serve the interests of their respective regions. Hence, they must clearly reject those with narrow views, acts of instability, and personal gain and ego.
When voting, decisions should not be based on emotions or personal reasons, but rather made with wisdom and sound judgment. Voters should cast their votes for individuals who can truly work for the good and benefit of the nation. By doing so, they will help ensure the flourishing of the democratic system for the country and for future generations.
