Union Solidarity and Development Party

The Union Solidarity and Development Party (; abbr. USDP) is an ultranationalist, pro-military political party in Myanmar. Alongside the National League for Democracy, it is one of Myanmar's two principal national parties. USDP is the successor to the former ruling military junta's mass organisation, the Union Solidarity and Development Association, and serves as the electoral proxy of the Tatmadaw (military), which operates as a state within a state. Many of its political candidates and leadership are retired generals. It supports authoritarian military leadership. USDP was founded by Prime Minister Thein Sein to contest the 2010 Myanmar general election; the part was headed by Sein until 2013. Since 2022, it has been led by Khin Yi, who was installed as a loyalist of military leader Min Aung Hlaing. History Establishment 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. 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. 2010 election The USDP won the 2010 general election, which was boycotted by the opposition.