File photo of Myanmar’s junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. As Mr. Hlaing was nominated as a candidate for Vice-President, former spymaster Ye Win Oo was promoted to head the military
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Myanmar cleared the way on Monday (March 30, 2026) for coup-leading General Min Aung Hlaing to become President and maintain his rule in civilian garb, with lawmakers nominating him as a Vice-Presidential candidate and the junta replacing him as military commander.
Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has ruled Myanmar since 2021 when he ordered a coup, toppling the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi — detaining the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, dissolving her party and triggering civil war.
After five years of hardline rule, he oversaw heavily restricted elections that criminalised protest or criticism of the vote and returned a walkover win for pro-military parties in poll results announced in late January.
Lower house MP Kyaw Kyaw Htay nominated Gen. Min Aung Hlaing for Vice-President on Monday (March 30, 2026), according to a television broadcast of a Parliamentary session on state-run media.
Three Vice-Presidents will be chosen, one of whom will be elected as President in a Parliament-wide vote.
The junta also installed a new military commander-in-chief, with former spymaster Gen. Ye Win Oo replacing Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, according to a junta statement.
“Today the current responsibilities of the commander-in-chief of the Tatmadaw have been transferred to General Ye Win Oo,” the statement said, referring to the Myanmar military.
Published – March 30, 2026 09:54 am IST
