Mro party seeks greater ethnic role in junta-backed election

By Admin 11 Nov 2025

DMG Newsroom

11 November 2025, Mrauk-U

The Mro National Development Party (MNDP) said Myanmar's upcoming military-run elections, held under a new voting system, could significantly increase the participation of ethnic groups.

U Maung Win Hlaing, Joint Secretary of the MNDP, spoke on November 10 via junta-controlled media about the party's policies, stances, and electoral plans.

"The representatives elected in a multi-party democratic general election need to be as competent as those in the Pyithu Hluttaw and fully engaged," U Maung Win Hlaing said. "Elections should also include representatives from professionals, youth, women, and ethnic minorities."

He added that ethnic representatives should play a central role in addressing improvements in social services, education, health, transport, and communication in key regions, as well as preserving traditional, literary, and artistic heritage.

An ethnic Mro woman expressed skepticism about the election, saying, "In the past, candidates promised change, but nothing happened. Under this dictator, who cannot be expected to deliver progress for our people, nothing will change. We are not taking the election seriously."

The military regime will hold the first phase of the election on 28 December. The MNDP plans to contest one seat in the Lower House from Sittwe, one seat in the Arakan State parliament under the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, and two seats under proportional representation (PR).

An ethnic Mro man criticized the campaign promises of other candidates, saying, "We cannot expect ethnic areas to progress under these campaigns. Past dictators have only caused decline. We have no intention of supporting candidates who mislead the people to maintain the dictatorship."

Other parties planning to contest the junta-organized vote include the Arakan Front Party (AFP) led by Dr. Aye Maung; the Rakhine Nationalities Party (RNP) chaired by U Ba Shein; the Rakhine State National Unity Party (RSUNP) led by U Aye Khaing; the Khami National Development Party led by U Sein Hla Kyaw; the Mro National Party; and the MNDP.