THE Union Election Commis­sion (UEC) held a meeting yes­terday at the UEC office confer­ence hall with registered political parties.

At the event, UEC Chair­man U Than Soe explained that among the political parties that applied in accordance with the registration law and regulations, 61 parties had been granted reg­istration. Of these, nine parties are nationwide, and 52 operate only within a specific region or state. All parties that applied in accordance with the law have been thoroughly verified and approved.

The chairman reminded political parties that when sub­mitting candidate lists for the legislature, they must comply with the legally stipulated num­ber of constituencies and quali­fications. Candidates must have completed at least basic educa­tion high school, and for upcom­ing elections, candidates should hold degrees from recognized universities or colleges. Political parties are encouraged to select and submit candidates who will serve the public interest and con­tribute to the nation.

It was also noted that citizens residing abroad or temporarily displaced must vote using Form 15. Those voting at their current residence must have lived there for at least 180 days to be eligible, with certification provided.

Regarding the election sys­tem, the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system will be applied for the Pyithu Hluttaw, while the Mixed Member Propor­tional (MMP) system will be used for the Amyotha Hluttaw and regional or state Hluttaws. Electronic voting machines will allow citizens to vote not only for candidates but also for parties. Political parties are required to submit priority candidate lists for proportional representation (PR) constituencies. Candidate mo­bilization efforts for both FPTP and PR seats can be conducted in parallel.

To ensure successful elec­tions, laws have been enacted to prevent interference or obstruc­tion in democratic general elec­tions, and security measures are in place for political parties and voters. UEC stressed its commit­ment to conducting free, fair, and lawful elections and encouraged political parties to collaborate to ensure smooth and successful electoral processes.

Following the opening re­marks, representatives from the attending political parties discussed election-related mat­ters and party-specific issues. UEC members, officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, General Administration Department, and the Department of Population and the Ministry of Labour also provided clarifications and guid­ance. Finally, UEC Chairman U Than Soe gave closing remarks, supplementing any necessary points, and concluded the meet­ing.

The event was attended by UEC officials and representa­tives, including chairpersons and leaders, from all 61 registered political parties. — MNA/KZL