ASEAN yet to agree on recognising Myanmar election results

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has not yet agreed to recognise the results of Myanmar’s recent election, which established former junta leader Min Aung Hlaing as the country’s new president.

“At present, ASEAN has not reached any consensus regarding the recognition of the election results in Myanmar,” stated Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Dominic Xavier Imperial on Wednesday (6/5), as reported by the Philippine News Agency.

This year, the Philippines holds the chairmanship of the 11-member regional bloc.

Min Aung Hlaing stepped down from his position as commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces in March to run for president.

The election process, held in three stages from December 2025 to January 2026, resulted in victories for pro-military parties, including the Union Solidarity and Development Party.

Min Aung Hlaing was then inaugurated as President of Myanmar in April, after securing 429 votes out of a total of 500 in the parliamentary vote.

In response to the Myanmar election results, Imperial said that ASEAN continues to be guided by the Five-Point Consensus (5PC)—the framework agreed upon by the bloc to address the crisis in Myanmar.

On Wednesday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement urging Myanmar to grant access to the ASEAN Chair’s special envoy to meet former president Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the military coup in 2021.

“This would align with the special envoy’s role to engage with all stakeholders and parties to create a conducive environment for inclusive national dialogue,” stated the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

Furthermore, the Philippines welcomes reports of Suu Kyi’s transfer from prison to house arrest, the partial reduction of her sentence, and the amnesty granted by Myanmar authorities to more than 1,500 political prisoners.