Burma’s 2020 Parliamentary Elections

Burma’s 2020 Parliamentary Elections

link to page 1

November 16, 2020
Burma’s 2020 Parliamentary Elections
The official results from Burma’s elections held on
Table 1. Comparison of Burma’s Parliamentary
November 8, 2020 indicate that Aung San Suu Kyi and her
Election Results by Chamber
National League for Democracy (NLD) have exceeded their
(number of seats won by selected major political parties)
supermajority victories of 2015 in both chambers of
Burma’s Union Parliament (see Table 1). A campaign by
Political Party
2010
2015
2020
ethnic minority parties to win a majority of the seats in the
nation’s seven ethnic states fell short of its goal, while the
People’s Assembly (Lower House)—330 seats
pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party
National League for
0
255
258
(USDP) experienced a decline in its electoral fortunes.
Democracy (NLD)
The elections were held when parts of eastern and western
Union Solidarity and
259
30
26
Burma were engulfed in the nation’s ongoing civil war
Development Party (USDP)
between Burma’s military, known as the Tatmadaw, and
Arakan National Party
9
12
4
several ethnic armed organizations (EAOs). As a result,
(ANP)/ Rakhine
voting was cancelled in 15 districts (9 in Rakhine State and
6 in Shan State) in the People’s Assembly
Nationalities Development
(Lower House)
Party (RND)
and 7 districts (all in Rakhine State) in the National
Assembly (Upper House). The elections were also marred
Shan Nationalities League
0
12
13
by procedural decisions that disenfranchised more than 1
for Democracy (SNLD)
million eligible voters, and for the second time denied
Rohingya living in Burma or residing in refugee camps in
Other Political Parties or
57
14
14
Bangladesh the right to vote.
Independents
Vacant (voting cancelled)
5
7
15
The NLD’s victory will likely result in Aung San Suu Kyi
continuing as the nation’s de facto leader. Some observers
National Assembly (Upper House)—168 seats
have criticized her for being too accommodating to the
National League for
0
135
138
Tatmadaw while ignoring the interests of Burma’s ethnic
Democracy (NLD)
minorities. These observers cite actions such as her
personal defense at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Union Solidarity and
129
11
7
of the military’s alleged genocidal attack on the Rohingya
Development Party (USDP)
in Rakhine State in 2017. The strength of the NLD’s victory
Arakan National Party
7
10
4
may also hinder efforts to negotiate an end to the nation’s
(ANP)/ Rakhine
70-year-old civil war, if Aung San Suu Kyi views the
Nationalities Development
election results as support for her stalled peace process.
Party (RNDP)
Background
Shan Nationalities League
0
3
2
The elections held under the provisions of the controversial
for Democracy (SNLD)
2008 constitution written by the nation’s former military
junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
Other Political Parties or
32
9
10
The 2008 constitution created a hybrid civilian/military
Independents
Union Government with a bicameral Union Parliament.
Vacant (voting cancelled)
0
0
7
Under the constitution, active military officers occupy 25%
of the seats in both chambers of the Union Parliament.
Source: Union Election Commission, “Announcement of the Results
Many of the EAOs reject the legitimacy of the Union
of the 2020 Multi-Party Democratic General Election,” November 15,
Government and the 2008 constitution.
2020 (in Burmese).
Notes: Table does not include 110 seats in People’s Assembly and
An estimated 70% of the 37 million eligible voters in
56 seats in National Assembly reserved for active military officers.
Burma (Myanmar) voted in the 3rd nationwide
The NLD and SNLD boycotted the 2010 elections. In 2013, the
parliamentary elections, despite the nation’s serious
RNDP and the Arakan League for Democracy merged to form the
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. The NLD
Arakan National Party. In 2017, some members of the ANP split off
won 258 seats in the People’s Assembly and 138 seats in
to form the Arakan Front Party (AFP).
the National Assembly. The USDP experienced a 4 seat
decline in both chambers.
An effort by ethnic minority political parties in Burma’s
seven ethnic states failed to win a majority of the contested
seats in either chamber, with the exception of Rakhine
https://crsreports.congress.gov

link to page 2 link to page 2
Burma’s 2020 Parliamentary Elections
State, where the Arakan National Party won 4 of the 7 seats
minority parties claim the cancellations were made to
in the People’s Assembly and 4 of the 5 seats in the
undermine their candidates.
National Assembly. The Shan Nationalities League for
Democracy won 13 of the 55 People’s Assembly seats and
Another concern for some was the conduct of the
2 of the 12 National Assembly seats in Shan State. The
Tatmadaw prior to the election. For the 2020 elections, the
political parties for the Kayah (Karenni) and Mon also won
UEC required military personnel and their families to vote
seats in their respective states.
in polling stations outside of their bases—a change from
2015, when troops were allowed to vote unmonitored on
Conduct of the Election
military bases, allegedly allowing the Tatmadaw to
Under Burma’s 2008 constitution, the Union Election
influence voting in favor of USDP candidates. As in 2015,
Commissions (UEC) is responsible for administering all
data from the independent Armed Conflict Location and
elections in Burma, including determining who can vote,
Event Data Project (ACLED) in 2020 showed a sharp
which candidates can run for office, and what campaign
increase in fighting just before the elections, which some
activities are permissible. In addition, the constitution states
observers assert was instigated by the military to cancel
that Burma’s President “shall constitute” the UEC’s
polling in some districts. The Tatmadaw also criticized the
commissioners, raising concerns that the UEC is an
UEC in the week before the elections, threatened to attempt
inherently partisan entity.
to impeach President Win Myint, and raised the specter of a
post-election military coup. Coup fears were quelled,
Figure 1. Districts where UEC Cancelled Voting
however, after Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief Senior
General Min Aung Hlaing said he would accept the election
results.
A local independent monitoring group, the People’s
Alliance for Credible Elections (PACE), reported only
minor problems with election day logistics, such as some
polling stations opening late or inadequate COVID-19
protective measures. Some ethnic minority voters claimed
that they were denied ballots for special minority seats
because their names did not appear on the UEC’s voters
list.
Implications for U.S. Policy
On the day of the elections, U.S. Secretary of State Michael
Pompeo expressed his appreciation of “the efforts of all
who worked to make these elections possible, particularly
in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19
pandemic.” He also indicated his concern about “the large
number of unelected seats constitutionally reserved for the
military; the disfranchisement of groups including
Rohingya; the cancellation of voting in parts of several
states and regions; and the disqualification of candidates
based on arbitrary application of citizenship and residency
requirements, which prevent the realization of a more
democratic and civilian government.”
In general, the Trump Administration has continued the
Obama Administration’s policy in Burma, working with the
Union Government in an effort to promote democracy and

Source: CRS, based on information from the UN Myanmar
end the country’s longstanding civil war. Some observers
Information Management Unit
expect the presumed incoming Biden Administration to
carry on in a similar manner, but may make adjustments to
Those concerns surfaced during the run-up to the election
account for the continuing mistreatment of the Rohingya.
as the UEC disenfranchised more than 2 million voters,
The 116th Congress introduced two bills—the Burma
including an estimated 600,000 Rohingya living in Rakhine
Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of
State. The UEC also disqualified more than 40 ethnic
2019 (H.R. 3190) and the Burma Human Rights and
minority candidates, including at least 6 Rohingya
Freedom Act of 2019 (S. 1186)—expressing support for
candidates. In addition, the UEC canceled voting in
democracy in Burma, and proposing new strategies to
portions of 56 voting districts in the States of Chin, Kachin,
advance democratic reforms in the nation.
Kayin (Karen), Mon, Rakhine (Arakan), and Shan, as well
as parts of Bago Region, stating that these locations were in
Michael F. Martin, Specialist in Asian Affairs
“no situation to hold a free and fair election.” (See Figure
Kirt Smith, Research Assistant
1). Various sources suggest that the cancellations were
based on recommendations by the Tatmadaw. Some ethnic
IF11687
https://crsreports.congress.gov

Burma’s 2020 Parliamentary Elections

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11687 · VERSION 1 · NEW