(5 parties to compete nationwide and 12 parties to compete Regionally)

As of March 8, a total of 17 political parties have submitted registration applications to the Union Election Commission (UEC) following the enactment of a new Political Parties Registration Law by the Military Council.

The Political Parties Registration Law was enacted on January 26, and stipulates that political parties intending to participate in elections must apply for party registration within 60 days of the law's promulgation. Failure to register within the deadline will result in automatic disqualification from political party status.

Political analyst U Than Soe Naing has voiced his concern that an election that is manipulated by the Chairman of the Military Council, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, will be inherently unfair.

"This is the election he will hold, so he will continue until he is defeated. But a fair and free election is absolutely impossible," he said.

As of March 8, the Union Election Commission (UEC) has received applications for registration from 17 political parties. The parties include the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), Federal Democratic Party (FDP), Myanmar People's Democratic Party (MPD), Union Democracy Party (UDP), Pa-O National Organization (PNO), Democratic Forces Labor Party (DFLP), New Democracy Party (Kachin), Public

Contribute Students Party (PCSP), New National Democracy Party (NNDP), Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party (PSDP), National Unity Party (NUP), Arakan Front Party (AFP), Kachin State People's Party (KSPP), Wun Thar Nu Party, People's Power Party, and Democratic Party.

Out of the 17 political parties that have applied for registration with the Union Election Commission (UEC), five are set to be organized across the entire country, while the remaining 12 will only operate within their respective states or regions.

Political parties that intend to operate across the entire country must be able to mobilize at least 100,000 party members within 90 days of registration and establish an account with the Myanmar Economic Bank with a minimum of 1,000 lakh Kyats for party funds.

Additionally, these parties must open party offices in at least half of the townships across the country within 180 days of registration.

Political parties that intend to operate within a state or region must be able to mobilize at least 10,000 party members within the state or region from the date of registration and establish an account with the Myanmar Economic Bank with a minimum of 100 lakh Kyats for party funds. Moreover, these parties must open party offices in at least five townships within the state or region within 180 days of registration.

While there were previously more than 90 political parties, many of them no longer applied for new registration due to the restrictions imposed by the new law.