Myanmar Junta Chief Min Aung Hlaing Appointed President

Kathmandu. Min Aung Hlaing was elected President of Myanmar on Friday with the support of the Union Solidarity and Development Party and the military-dominated parliament. 

Through this ballot, Hlaing became president by defeating opposition retired General Myo Zaw. In parliament, 429 votes were cast in favor of Hlaing and 126 votes in favor of Zaw.

The 69-year-old army chief's journey to power began in 2021 after he toppled the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and had her arrested.

Widespread protests erupted across the country, which turned into armed resistance against the military government. This has plunged the country into a five-year-long civil war and political instability.

Min Aung Hlaing has ascended to the presidency following the results of the controversial elections held in December-January. The military-backed party won a landslide victory in that election, which Western governments criticized as a sham election designed to maintain military rule under the guise of democracy.

In Friday's vote, military-appointed lawmakers and members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party supported Hlaing. 

With this, he has transitioned his authority as army chief to the civilian presidency. Analysts have described this as a clear example of the centralization of power in Myanmar and military rule masked by a democratic facade. Since the military coup five years ago, the country has been facing widespread instability, economic crisis, and the displacement of thousands of citizens.