Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing has been formally elected president following a parliamentary vote on Friday (Apr 3), cementing his control over the country’s political leadership five years after he led a coup that ousted an elected government.
The vote, widely seen as tightly managed, saw lawmakers from the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party alongside appointed armed forces representatives backing his candidacy in a decisive outcome.
He secured 429 votes, comfortably ahead of retired general and junta prime minister Nyo Saw, who received 126 votes.
His transition from commander-in-chief to president follows a disputed election held between December and January, which was won overwhelmingly by a military-aligned party but dismissed by critics and Western governments as lacking credibility.
Analysts say the move is aimed at strengthening his political legitimacy while maintaining the military’s dominance over Myanmar’s governance structure.
Min Aung Hlaing has led the armed forces since 2011 and has been at the centre of Myanmar’s political turmoil since the 2021 coup, which removed the government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and triggered widespread protests that escalated into an ongoing civil conflict.
During the vote, he was not clearly seen on state television broadcasts, and it remains uncertain whether he attended the parliamentary session in person.
His appointment follows a recent military reshuffle in which he named a close ally, former intelligence chief Ye Win Oo, as his successor within the armed forces.
International reactions have been mixed, with China, a key regional ally, offering congratulations and expressing support for stability in Myanmar.
However, human rights organisations have criticised the development, with Amnesty International stating that a change in title does not alter allegations of responsibility for serious international crimes.
The ongoing civil war continues to engulf the country, with resistance groups and ethnic armed organisations intensifying efforts to oppose military rule under a newly formed opposition coalition.
Observers warn that the political shift may further complicate efforts to resolve the conflict, as the military government faces continued resistance, economic strain, and growing international scrutiny.
