• Myanmar’s parliament has convened for the first time since a coup in 2021.
• The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party won 81% of seats in recent elections.
• Major opposition parties were barred from participation in the elections.
• A new five-member Union Consultative Council will be formed to support military leadership.
• Critics have condemned the legitimacy of the electoral process as a "sham."

Myanmar’s parliament officially convened on March 16, marking the first assembly since the military coup in February 2021. This pivotal moment follows elections held under controversial circumstances, with the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) securing 81% of the parliamentary seats amid widespread criticism that barred significant opposition parties from participating. The elections, which took place over a limited geographic area and attracted only about 50% voter turnout, have been widely dismissed by international observers, emphasizing the regime's effort to cement military rule under a façade of democracy, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Al Jazeera.

The USDP, led by former general Khin Yi, was elected as the speaker of the lower house during the inaugural session. The assembly's structure heavily favors the military, with a constitutionally mandated quarter of seats reserved for military officials. This arrangement hands substantial legislative power to the junta, reinforcing fears that the parliament will operate solely under military auspices. Independent analysts have remarked, "It is merely a manoeuvre by the military leadership to shift power from their left hand to their right," indicating a lack of genuine political reform, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The junta has announced plans to create a new five-member panel titled the Union Consultative Council, designed to consolidate control and guide governance strategies alongside the newly formed legislature. Analysts suspect that this "superbody" will empower Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to retain a tight grip on both military and civilian administration despite assumptions of a nominally civilian government. Critiques have arisen regarding the junta's portrayal of the electoral outcome, which they claim reflects the public's will, contrary to statements by various watchdog organizations labeling the process a "sham," according to Al Jazeera.

Since the coup, Myanmar has descended into a humanitarian crisis, witnessing civil conflict that has uprooted millions and led to accusations of brutal military repression and violence against civilians. The international community, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has cast significant doubt on the electoral process and subsequent governance legitimacy. Despite the junta's claims of steering the country toward a democratic path, the overwhelming military influence in parliament raises critical concerns regarding future governance and civil rights in Myanmar, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Al Jazeera.