Myanmar Parliament elects Min Aung Hlaing as President

Myanmar’s parliament on Friday elected ruling general Min Aung Hlaing as the country’s new president, reinforcing the military’s hold on power years after the ouster of the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.The development signals a nominal shift toward an elected framework, though it is widely viewed as an attempt by the military to consolidate control following a controversial election that critics and independent observers have described as neither free nor fair.

Myanmar's parliament elects ruling general as president, keeping army in charge, reports AP

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Min Aung Hlaing, who has effectively ruled the country since the military takeover, was among three nominees for the presidency. His election was largely seen as assured, given that lawmakers from military-backed parties, along with army-appointed representatives, command a dominant majority in parliament.The move to install a formally elected government is also being interpreted as an effort to recalibrate Myanmar’s strained international relations, particularly within Asia, after the 2021 coup drew widespread condemnation.While countries such as China and Russia have maintained support for Myanmar’s military leadership, Western nations have imposed sanctions in response to the overthrow of the elected government and the subsequent political crackdown.