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Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, has been elected vice president by the country’s lower house of parliament, officials said on Tuesday, in a move that could pave the way for him to assume the presidency.
“The lower house of elected MPs announces Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as a vice-president,” the lower house speaker, Khin Yi, stated.
According to a live parliamentary broadcast, he secured 247 votes out of 260.
Three vice presidents are expected to be appointed this week, with one of them set to become president in a nationwide parliamentary vote.
Min Aung Hlaing has led Myanmar since the 2021 military coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and plunged the country into civil war.
Following five years of military rule, his administration recently oversaw tightly controlled elections in which opposition activity was heavily restricted, resulting in a decisive victory for pro-military parties.
Rights groups have repeatedly warned that the current political process is designed to maintain military dominance under a civilian façade.
Analysts expect Min Aung Hlaing to be confirmed as president in the coming days after he stepped down as army chief and was nominated for the vice presidency by the lower house on Monday.
