• Myanmar's military-backed party is leading in the first phase of elections, winning by a large margin.
• Only 52% voter turnout was reported, indicating public apathy towards the elections.
• The elections are criticized globally as lacking legitimacy, with no participation from major pro-democracy parties.
• Aung San Suu Kyi's party remains banned and she continues to be detained following the coup.
• Future phases of voting are scheduled for January 11 and 25, covering more regions.

Myanmar's military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) leads after the first phase of a contested general election, marking the first voting since the 2021 coup. Official results from the Union Election Commission (UEC) reveal the USDP winning 87 out of 96 announced lower house seats, despite claims of electoral legitimacy facing widespread skepticism. The coup followed a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests, igniting a rebellion throughout the country, which the junta claims these elections will stabilize, as reported by SCMP and Channel News Asia.

The USDP, largely composed of retired generals, achieved a turnout of 52% according to the junta, significantly lower than previous elections that saw about 70% participation. Observers note that the election's partial results show the pro-military party winning 38 of the 40 seats in the lower house, signaling potential conflicts as the country navigates its precarious political landscape, according to The Jakarta Post.

Throughout these elections, significant criticisms have emerged, with rights group claims labeling the electoral process as a facade for the military's power consolidation. The National League for Democracy (NLD) party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, remains dissolved and her imprisonment continues to cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the USDP's success. Observers note that political representatives from the NLD are absent from ballots, furthering the international community's condemnation of the elections as a "sham," reported by SCMP and The Jakarta Post.

As the junta progresses with another two rounds of voting set for January 11 and 25, analysts warn that a stable government remains a distant goal amid ongoing civil unrest. The election's aim to create a semblance of national stability is met with skepticism as violence continues between junta forces and pro-democracy factions, necessitating a cautious examination of the legitimacy and impacts of the election outcome reported by Channel News Asia and SCMP.