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| 2010 Myanmar general election | |
|---|---|
| Election name | 2010 Myanmar general election |
| Country | Myanmar |
| Type | Parliamentary |
| Election date | 7 November 2010 |
| Previous election | 1990 Burmese general election |
| Previous year | 1990 |
| Next election | 2015 Myanmar general election |
| Next year | 2015 |
2010 Myanmar general election was held on 7 November 2010 across Myanmar to elect members of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and regional legislatures following a constitution promulgated in 2008. The vote marked the end of direct rule by the State Peace and Development Council and the beginning of a nominally civilian administration led by the Union Solidarity and Development Party. The process, its rules, and its conduct were widely scrutinized by Aung San Suu Kyi, National League for Democracy, United Nations, and regional bodies such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The election followed the 2008 2008 constitution drafted under the auspices of the State Peace and Development Council and overseen by the 2008 constitutional referendum. The referendum and subsequent political arrangements were influenced by figures including Senior General Than Shwe and institutions such as the Tatmadaw. Historical context included the 1990 1990 Burmese general election outcome and the prolonged detention of opposition leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy and activists connected to the 88 Generation Student Group. International incidents such as sanctions by the United States Department of the Treasury and policies by the European Union shaped diplomatic engagement. Ethnic armed organizations such as the Kachin Independence Organization and Karen National Union maintained ceasefires or conflict, affecting electoral preparations in contested regions.
Elections were governed by provisions in the 2008 constitution and laws enacted by the State Peace and Development Council. The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw comprises the House of Nationalities (Amyotha Hluttaw) and the House of Representatives (Pyithu Hluttaw), with a quota of unelected seats reserved for the Tatmadaw. Electoral administration involved the Union Election Commission, chaired by Thein Soe. Constituency delineation referenced townships and states such as Rangoon (Yangon) and Mandalay Region. The legal framework disqualified persons tied to foreign citizenship, impacting figures like Aung San Suu Kyi under provisions related to the citizenship clause. Party registration rules affected entities such as the National Democratic Force and Shan Nationalities League for Democracy.
Campaigning featured the Union Solidarity and Development Party, successor to the Union Solidarity and Development Association, and opposition groups including the National League for Democracy which opted to boycott. Prominent exiled and internal figures such as Aung San Suu Kyi, Thein Sein, and Shwe Mann were central to narratives. Ethnic parties including the Arakan League for Democracy, Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, and Rohingya-related groups faced registration and participation controversies in states such as Rakhine State and Kachin State. Media coverage involved outlets like the Myanmar Radio and Television and restrictions traced to the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division. Campaign events were subject to regulation by the Union Solidarity and Development Party organization network and local authorities in townships across Sagaing Region and Tanintharyi Region.
On 7 November 2010 polling occurred amid deployment of personnel associated with the Tatmadaw and municipal law enforcement in urban centers like Naypyidaw and Yangon; logistics involved ballot distribution to remote areas including Chin State and Shan State. The Union Election Commission announced procedures for voting, counting, and complaint submission. Observers reported irregularities at polling stations in districts such as Bago Region and Mon State; issues included voter list accuracy and access in internally displaced persons camps tied to conflicts involving groups like the Kachin Independence Army. Voter turnout figures were published by the commission and contested by domestic and international actors including representatives from the United Nations.
Official results declared a landslide for the Union Solidarity and Development Party led by figures including Thein Sein and Tin Naing Thein, with victory in the majority of seats in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. Reserved Tatmadaw appointments ensured a military bloc within parliamentary institutions. Opposition groups such as the National Democratic Force won limited representation; the National League for Democracy absence altered legislative dynamics. The outcome precipitated appointments culminating in the formation of a nominally civilian cabinet and the inauguration of a new legislature in 2011 with key offices held by former regime figures and technocrats.
Responses included condemnation, cautious engagement, and mixed assessments from entities such as the United Nations, European Union, United States Department of State, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Observers from states including China, India, and Thailand engaged diplomatically, while governments like United States and European Union maintained criticisms tied to pre-election detentions of figures such as Aung San Suu Kyi and alleged irregularities. Missions by non-governmental observer teams and journalists from organizations like Human Rights Watch and International Crisis Group reported on rights issues and constraints on civil liberties including restrictions traceable to the Emergency Provisions Act legacy and media controls managed by the Myanmar Press Council.
The election set the stage for a transition that led to the presidency of Thein Sein and reforms including ceasefire negotiations with ethnic groups such as the Shan State Army and dialogues involving the Union Solidarity and Development Party and civil society actors. Subsequent developments included partial political liberalization, high-profile meetings involving Aung San Suu Kyi after her release, and the eventual participation of the National League for Democracy in the 2015 Myanmar general election. Continuing tensions persisted in regions including Rakhine State and Kachin State with armed groups like the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army affecting stability during the transition period.