Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing previously claimed that his regime is preparing to hold a general election.
This year was seen as the likely date, partly because previous general elections had been held every five years after 2010.
But the junta boss has not set a date and changed his tone.
Min Aung Hlaing has shifted his focus to nationwide “peace and stability” as a precondition to “free and fair” elections.
During the January 31 National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) meeting, which extended the state of emergency for another six months, Min Aung Hlaing stressed the need to end armed conflict and restore peace.
At his cabinet meeting on February 3, Min Aung Hlaing said political parties could only launch their campaigns when there was peace and stability.
During his Union Day message on Wednesday, Min Aung Hlaing called elections the cornerstone of democracy and called for collaborative efforts to restore peace across the country to hold a general election.
Last year, he said elections would be held in stages where security allowed.
The latest state of emergency expires on July 30. Under the 2008 Constitution, Min Aung Hlaing should hand power back to the NDSC ahead of a general election to be held before January 2026.
Some political parties predict a November poll, in keeping with previous general elections.
However, according to Min Aung Hlaing’s statement, there must be nationwide peace for an election to take place. However, the regime has lost large swathes of northern Shan State, Rakhine, Kachin, Kayah (Karenni), Karen and Chin states and central Myanmar. It has also been conducting airstrikes in 13 regions and states, excluding Yangon Region. An end to armed conflict seems unlikely before the end of the year.
In his Independence Day message on January 4, the junta boss told revolutionary groups to lay down their arms, saying that he would not yield to demands at gunpoint.
Another extension of the state of emergency seems more likely than any voting.
The junta’s election promise has been internationally and domestically condemned as a fraud aimed at cementing rule by a military that ousted an elected government.
