The Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on December 29 that it has approved the registration of the People’s Party, a new political party led by U Ko Ko Gyi, a prominent student activist of the 88th generation.

The party, which is based in Pazundaung Township, Yangon Region, has been assigned the registration number 47.

The People’s Party had applied for re-registration in late March, after the State Administration Council enacted a new political party registration law. The party, which aims to be a nationwide organizing force, has to recruit at least 100,000 members within 90 days, as per the new law.

The party has also formed an alliance with the United Democratic Party, headed by U Sein Win, a former Lower House lawmaker. U Ko Ko Gyi, the chairman of the People’s Party, is known for his involvement in the 88th General Peace and Open Society, a civil society group that advocates for democracy and human rights.

The UEC’s approval of the People’s Party brings the total number of registered political parties in the country to 47. However, two parties, the Kokang Democratic Party and the Myo Ethnic Development Party, have been deregistered by the UEC in November, leaving only 45 active parties.