Union Solidarity and Development Party

The USDP was formed on 29 April 2010 by Thein Sein and senior military officers who had retired from the armed forces, in the lead-up to the 2010 Myanmar general election.{{Cite web |date=2010-07-19 |title=Burma: Military Party Guaranteed to Dominate Elections |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2010/07/19/burma-military-party-guaranteed-dominate-elections |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en}} On 6 July 2010, the military junta permitted its predecessor, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), to dissolve itself and transfer its assets and office to the USDP. This included assets from the USDA's conglomerate, the Myan Gon Myint group of companies, which had interests in key sectors of Myanmar's economy.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-22 |title=Union Solidarity and Development Party: The Cartel's Party |url=https://www.justiceformyanmar.org/stories/usdp-the-cartels-party |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=Justice For Myanmar}}

The USDP won the 2010 general election, which was boycotted by the opposition.

On 2 May 2011, Shwe Mann assumed the office as temporary chairman of USDP. Htay Oo as deputy chairman, Aung Thaung and Thein Zaw as Secretary 1 and 2. Maung Oo was appointed as Disciplinary Official of the USDP. Former Yangon Mayor Aung Thein Lin was appointed to lead the USDP's Yangon branch.{{Cite web |last=Kha |first=Kyaw |date=May 10, 2011 |title=Lower House speaker Thura Shwe Mann appointed USDP chairman |url=https://www.bnionline.net/en/mizzima-news/item/10715-lower-house-speaker-thura-shwe-mann-appointed-usdp-chairman.html |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Burma News International |language=en}}

On 16 October 2012, Thein Sein was re-elected as the chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) at the USDP's first party conference in Naypyidaw.{{cite news |author=Yuanyuan |first=Wang |date=16 October 2012 |title=President U Thein Sein re-elected as Myanmar's ruling party leader |agency=Xinhua News Agency |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-10/16/c_131910351.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=17 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020100400/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-10/16/c_131910351.htm |archive-date=20 October 2012}}

Because of mounting criticism over his dual role, Thein Sein handed over the position of USDP chairman to Shwe Mann on 1 May 2013.{{cite news |date=2 May 2013 |title=Thein Sein resigns as chairman of Burma's ruling party |newspaper=DVB News |url=http://english.dvb.no/thein-sein-resigns-as-chairman-of-burma%E2%80%99s-ruling-party/ |access-date=25 June 2013}}

On 13 August 2015, it was reported that chairman Shwe Mann and general secretary Maung Maung Thein had been removed from their positions.{{cite web |last=Zaw |first=Hnin Yadana |title=Myanmar ruling party chief sacked in power struggle with president |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/myanmar-politics-secretarygeneral-idINKCN0QI0A420150813 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307042553/http://in.reuters.com/article/myanmar-politics-secretarygeneral-idINKCN0QI0A420150813 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 March 2016 |website=reuters.com}}{{cite web |last=Doherty |first=Ben |date=13 August 2015 |title=Turmoil in Burma's military-backed ruling party as leaders are deposed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/13/burmese-forces-surround-ruling-party-headquarters-and-confine-mps-report |website=the Guardian}}

In the lead-up to the 2015 general election, USDP member of parliament, Tin Aye stepped down to become chair of the Union Election Commission (UEC), the country's electoral regulatory body, prompting concerns over the UEC's lack of impartiality and independence.{{Cite web |date=2015-11-04 |title=Burma: Election Fundamentally Flawed |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/11/04/burma-election-fundamentally-flawed |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en}}

The opposition National League for Democracy contested the 2015 election.{{Cite web |last=Hein |first=Aung |date=2019-07-16 |title=Is a weak USDP good for Myanmar? |url=https://www.newmandala.org/is-a-weak-usdp-good-for-myanmar/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=New Mandala |language=en-AU}} During the election, USDP secured less than 30% of the popular vote, gaining only 8.4% of elected seats in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

Following a second landslide victory for the National League for Democracy in the 2020 general election, the USDP baselessly alleged massive electoral fraud alongside the Tatmadaw, unsuccessfully challenged the election outcome in the courts, and called for the election to be re-run.{{cite news |last=Naing |first=Shoon |date=11 November 2020 |title=Myanmar opposition demands vote re-run as Suu Kyi's NLD heads for victory |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-election-idUSKBN27R0UO}}{{Cite web |title=Myanmar Army-Linked Parties Challenge Election Defeats in Supreme Court |url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/supreme-court-01052021193026.html |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Radio Free Asia |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Goodman |first1=Jack |title=Myanmar coup: Does the army have evidence of voter fraud? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/55918746 |access-date=7 February 2023 |work=BBC News |date=5 February 2021}} After all constitutional means of challenging the election results were exhausted, the USDP supported the 2021 military coup d'état and assumed the presidency and multiple seats on the State Administration Council, the military junta.{{Cite web |last1=Tun |first1=Htet Myet Min |last2=Thuzar |first2=Moe |last3=Montesano |first3=Michael |date=8 September 2021 |title=Buttressing the Anti-NLD Project: Data on the Civilian Members of Myanmar's State Administration Council Junta |url=https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-commentaries/iseas-perspective/2021-119-buttressing-the-anti-nld-project-data-on-the-civilian-members-of-myanmars-state-administration-council-junta-by-htet-myet-min-tun-moe-thuzar-and-michael-montesano/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908134327/https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-commentaries/iseas-perspective/2021-119-buttressing-the-anti-nld-project-data-on-the-civilian-members-of-myanmars-state-administration-council-junta-by-htet-myet-min-tun-moe-thuzar-and-michael-montesano/ |archive-date=8 September 2021 |access-date=22 September 2021 |publisher=ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute |number=2021/119}}{{cite news |title=Myanmar coup: who are the military figures running the country? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/02/myanmar-coup-who-are-the-military-figures-running-the-country |access-date=11 February 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=2 February 2021}}

On 12 September 2022, Than Htay resigned as the party chairman and handed over immediately to Vice Chairman Khin Yi, the latter became Acting Chairman. On 5 October 2022, Khin Yi was elected as the new Chairman and officially assumed the party chairmanship.{{cite web |date=5 October 2022 |title=Myanmar military-linked party names junta chief's ally as leader |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2022/10/05/myanmar-military-linked-party-names-junta-chiefs-ally-as-leader |access-date=6 October 2022 |website=The Star}}

In December 2022, the military junta began replacing hundreds of local government administrators in Yangon Region with USDP supporters.{{Cite web |last=Thit |first=Han |title=Myanmar junta replaces Yangon administrators with hardline supporters – Myanmar Now |url=https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/myanmar-junta-replaces-yangon-administrators-with-hardline-supporters/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |language=en-US}}

The USDP was the first party to register under a new junta-enacted electoral law in 2023, and has since begun campaigning for the next general election.{{cite news |title=Myanmar Regime's Proxy Political Party Steps up Campaigning |url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-regimes-proxy-political-party-steps-up-campaigning.html |access-date=17 March 2023 |work=The Irrawaddy |date=14 March 2023}}

The USDP is widely described as a far-right,{{cite web |last=Oo |first=Nay Yan |date=12 May 2017 |title=Myanmar is ripe for third-party opposition |url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/myanmar-ripe-third-party-opposition |work=Lowy Institute for International Policy}} ultranationalist party.{{cite news |author=Lwin |first1=Khin Moh Moh |last2=Pai |first2=Myo Set |date=20 November 2020 |title=Far-right Buddhist nationalist candidates among biggest losers in 2020 election |agency=Myanmar Now |url=https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/far-right-buddhist-nationalist-candidates-among-biggest-losers-in-2020-election |access-date=23 November 2020}} It effectively serves as a proxy for the nation's military, with many of its political candidates and leadership being retired generals.{{cite news |last1=Strangio |first1=Sebastian |date=26 November 2020 |title=What's Next for Myanmar's Military Proxy Party? |work=The Diplomat |url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/11/whats-next-for-myanmars-military-proxy-party/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127051410/https://thediplomat.com/2020/11/whats-next-for-myanmars-military-proxy-party/ |archive-date=27 November 2020}}{{cite news |date=6 June 2022 |title=Myanmar military forcibly recruits villagers into pro-junta militias |work=Radio Free Asia |url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/recruits-06062022194237.html |access-date=11 February 2023}}{{cite news |date=31 January 2021 |title=Explainer: Crisis in Myanmar after army alleges election fraud |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-politics-explainer/explainer-crisis-in-myanmar-after-army-alleges-election-fraud-idUSKBN2A113H |access-date=11 February 2023}}{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Martin |date=1 December 2003 |title=The Enigma of Burma's Tatmadaw: A "State Within a State" |journal=Critical Asian Studies |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=621–632 |doi=10.1080/1467271032000147069 |s2cid=145060842}}{{cite news |last1=Ebbighausen |first1=Rodion |date=12 February 2021 |title=Myanmar's military: A state within a state |work=Deutsche Welle |url=https://www.dw.com/en/myannmar-military-state/a-56545673 |access-date=10 February 2023}}{{cite news |author1=Cho |first=Phyo Thiha |date=1 July 2020 |title=USDP says it's no longer favouring retired military officials as MP candidates |work=Myanmar Now |url=https://myanmar-now.net/en/news/usdp-says-its-no-longer-favouring-retired-military-officials-as-mp-candidates |access-date=11 February 2023}} It has also been described as authoritarian,{{cite journal |last1=Macdonald |first1=Adam P. |date=January 2013 |title=From Military Rule to Electoral Authoritarianism: The Reconfiguration of Power in Myanmar and its Future |journal=Asian Affairs: An American Review |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=20–36 |doi=10.1080/00927678.2013.759479 |s2cid=154558782}} Buddhist nationalist,{{cite news |author=Lwin |first1=Khin Moh Moh |last2=Pai |first2=Myo Set |date=20 November 2020 |title=Far-right Buddhist nationalist candidates among biggest losers in 2020 election |agency=Myanmar Now |url=https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/far-right-buddhist-nationalist-candidates-among-biggest-losers-in-2020-election |access-date=23 November 2020}}{{Cite journal |last= |date=5 September 2017 |title=Buddhism and State Power in Myanmar |url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/myanmar/290-buddhism-and-state-power-myanmar |journal=Internal Crisis Group}} and right-wing populist.{{cite web| url=https://www.tni.org/files/article-downloads/erpi_cp_67_win.pdf | title=Falling Back on Populism in Post-Ideology Myanmar | access-date=2024-01-29}}

{{Asof|2022|October}}, USDP is led by:

{{colbegin}}

• Chairman: Khin Yi
• Vice-Chairman: Myat Hein, Hla Tun, Myo Zaw Thein
• General Secretary: Thaung Aye
• Joint General Secretary: Tin Aung Chit

{{colend}}

The USDP owns the shares and assets of former Myan Gon Myint group, a conglomerate with interests in gem mining, construction, agriculture, livestock, and imports and exports.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-06-10 |title=Military's proxy party enriched itself with customs x-ray machine that 'should be owned by the state' |url=https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/militarys-proxy-party-enriched-itself-with-customs-x-ray-machine-that-should-be-owned-by-the-state/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=Myanmar Now |language=en-US}} Myan Gon Myint was first established in 1995 with an initial {{US$|500,000}} investment, and earned {{US$|2.7 million}} that year from selling and renting shops in Yangon's markets.{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Country Report: Myanmar |url=https://www.iuj.ac.jp/mlic/EIU/Report/Myanmar/June_1996_Main_report.pdf |website=The Economist Intelligence Unit}} Myan Gon Myint appropriated state-owned assets, and revenues from Myan Gon Myint had been used to fund the operations of USDP's predecessor. In June 2020, news emerged that USDP had earned 16 billion kyats ({{US$|11.5 million}}) between 2006 and 2018, from leasing x-ray cargo scanners to the Customs Department, prompting legislative scrutiny into whether the scanners should be state-owned. USDP's economic activities are in potential violation of Myanmar's Political Parties Registration Law.

USDP party members also pay an annual membership fee (1,000 kyats in 2020), earning the party an additional {{US$|3.5 million}} per year.

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.usdp.info/ Official website of the Union Solidarity and Development Party]

{{Myanmar political parties}}

Category:2010 establishments in Myanmar

Category:Far-right political parties

Category:Far-right politics in Myanmar

Category:Right-wing politics in Myanmar

Category:Internal conflict in Myanmar

Category:Military rule in Myanmar

Category:Nationalist parties in Asia

Category:Nationalist parties in Myanmar

Category:National conservative parties

Category:Political parties established in 2010

Category:Political parties in Myanmar

Category:Social conservative parties

Category:Authoritarianism

Category:Right-wing populism in Asia