8 | A NEW ELECTORAL SYSTEM TO ENSURE MILITARY HEGEMONY IN THE NEXT PARLIAMENT Soon after the coup, Min Aung Hlaing and the junta-appointed UEC proposed changes to Myanmar’s electoral system, including the introduction of proportional representation (PR) instead of first-past-the-post (FPTP), which had traditionally been used for all elections. The change was allegedly considered to allow for more inclusive representation in parliament. While it is true that first-past-the-post is criticized by some for reinforcing majoritarian rule, due to its “winner takes all” nature, the junta’s implementation of proportional representation is designed to entrench the military further. PR had been a long-standing demand of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and other parties, such as the National Democratic Force (NDF), to reduce the dominance of the NLD. On the other hand, most political parties that won seats in 2020 have voiced their opposition to a PR system. The junta-appointed UEC conducted meetings and workshops with registered political parties on the implementation of PR, until amended election laws were published on 30 July 2025, as one of the last measures taken by the now-defunct SAC. Under the new laws, half of Amyotha Hluttaw and state/region hluttaw members will be chosen through closed-list proportional representation, with the other half still selected via first-pastthe-post. However, the UEC has announced that voters will only get to vote once for both elections, as FPTP votes will be used to calculate seat allocation under PR. Pyithu Hluttaw elections will continue to use FPTP only as changing the constituency 35