Myanmar Spring Chronicle – Scenes from March 18
(MoeMaKa), March 19, 2026
Are people interested in the parliament/government formed through the military’s election?
More than five years after the 2021 military coup, a new parliament has been convened and a government is being formed. But are ordinary people really interested in who takes which roles, how the government will be structured, and who will be appointed?
If we try to answer that question, the reality is that most people are not interested in the election itself, nor in the Union Parliament that follows, nor in who will become president, vice presidents, or ministers chosen by that parliament. There may have been some who went to vote in the military-organized election due to rumors that those who did not vote would be recorded and punished.
The election saw many candidates from the military-backed USDP (Union Solidarity and Development Party), led by former generals, as well as the National Unity Party (formed in 1989 after the collapse of Ne Win’s BSPP regime, consisting of former military officers and supporters). Although the USDP reportedly won the most votes, everyone except the military and its supporters understands that these results do not reflect the will or support of the public.
The USDP chairman, whose party claimed victory, has taken the position of Speaker of the Lower House, while Aung Lin Dwe—who retired from his senior military post about eight months ago—was reportedly selected as Speaker of the Upper House. In reality, such parliamentary votes are tightly controlled by the party, with elected representatives following strict directives.
Lists showing the lineup—who will become Speaker, Deputy Speaker, President, and Vice Presidents—have reportedly been selectively leaked to some domestic and international media, possibly as part of the military’s propaganda efforts to generate public interest.
Domestic media outlets appear cautious and avoid widely reporting such lineup news, while some foreign-based media highlight it more prominently. In practice, these kinds of stories—who will be president, who will be vice president, and who the commander-in-chief will appoint—tend to interest businesspeople, foreign embassies in Myanmar, and political analysts.
For the majority of ordinary people in Myanmar, however, daily life is dominated by ongoing যুদ্ধ, arbitrary taxes when traveling between areas, and restrictions on fuel, medicine, and basic goods.
People in conflict zones constantly fear aerial attacks—from planes, drones, or gyrocopters—while also closely monitoring news about troop movements and forced recruitment on the ground. At the same time, they must remain vigilant against theft, robbery, and killings.
Due to the collapse of labor rights and the breakdown of the healthcare system, many people are suffering in terms of survival and health. Under such pressures, there are also many who have lost their lives prematurely.
Over the past five years, tens of thousands of civilians have died due to COVID-19 and the war, and there are likely thousands more indirect deaths caused by conflict, though exact figures are unavailable.
In a country where the majority rely on agriculture, farmers are struggling to sell their products, while high costs for inputs like fertilizer and fuel have severely impacted production. Markets for rice, beans, and exports such as watermelon and cucumbers to neighboring China have also been disrupted, affecting millions of people.
Amid widespread deterioration across economic, social, educational, and rule-of-law sectors, most people cannot afford to pay attention to changes in the political leadership or governing structures.
At the same time, hopes that the National Unity Government and ethnic armed organizations—who are attempting to overthrow the military regime—can provide security, economic stability, and livelihoods for the public are gradually fading.
While people have supported the war effort with manpower, money, and morale for nearly five years, they are also seeing that a decisive victory is still not within immediate reach.