Military-backed party in Myanmar takes lead in contentious first election since coup

Junta says turnout in first vote in five years is 52%, which observers have described as low compared to past polls

Myanmar’s military-backed Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP) is leading after the first phase of a contentious general election, early results cited by state media showed, in the first vote since a 2021 coup.

Having sparked a nationwide rebellion after crushing pro-democracy protests in the wake of its coup, the ruling junta has said the three-phase vote would bring political stability to the impoverished nation.