Apr 03, Kathmandu - Myanmar has elected former junta leader Min Aung Hlaing as the country's new president. The announcement was made on Friday, with Hlaing garnering support from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and a military-backed parliament.

Hlaing defeated retired General Nyo Saw in the presidential vote, securing support with 429 votes compared to Nyo Saw's 126. The 69-year-old military chief’s rise to power marks a pivotal moment following years of upheaval.

His political journey took a dramatic turn in 2021 when he led a coup that overthrew Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, resulting in her detention. The coup sparked widespread protests and evolved into an armed resistance movement, plunging the nation into a five-year-long civil conflict and political instability.

Following the December-January elections, in which the military-supported party achieved a landslide victory, many Western nations criticized the polls as a sham to uphold military rule under the guise of democracy. Despite this, Hlaing’s allies within the parliament, including appointed MPs and supporters from the USDP, backed his presidential bid.

By assuming the presidency, Hlaing has effectively transitioned his authority from military leadership into a civilian role, consolidating power amid ongoing unrest. Analysts see this move as a clear example of Myanmar’s centralization of authority and the camouflage of military dictatorship under a democratic facade.

Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar has faced severe instability, economic crises, and the displacement of thousands of its citizens, with the nation still grappling with the repercussions of military rule.