Myanmar’s parliament on Friday elected Min Aung Hlaing, the general who removed Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government in 2021 and has maintained tight control over the country for the past five years, as the country’s new president.
The development signals a nominal return to an elected government, but it is widely seen as an attempt to preserve military rule following an election arranged by the army that critics and independent observers said was neither free nor fair.
Min Aung Hlaing was one of three candidates nominated for the presidency, but his victory was widely expected as lawmakers from military-backed parties and army-appointed members hold a dominant majority in parliament.