Myanmar junta will press on with election plans

Significance

This enables the State Administration Council, the junta headed by military chief and coup leader Min Aung Hlaing, to remain in place for another six months. Min Aung Hlaing previously promised elections by August 2023.

Impacts

• Once elections are called, the military will try harder to control key areas and anti-junta forces will begin to attack poll infrastructure.
• The region will be divided on whether to recognise the poll winner, likely to be the military-linked Union Solidarity and Development Party.
• Indonesia, the 2023 ASEAN chair, will attempt a difficult balancing act by engaging both the military and its opponents in dialogue.