Myanmar Parliament Elects Min Aung Hlaing President

Myanmar's parliament elected Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as the country's president on Friday in Naypyitaw, formalizing the military leader's control five years after he seized power in a coup against the elected government. The 69-year-old, who has commanded the armed forces since 2011, secured 429 votes out of 584 in a session dominated by lawmakers from the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party and appointed military representatives.

The vote followed a parliamentary election held in three phases during December and January, which the USDP won overwhelmingly. Major opposition parties, including the National League for Democracy formerly led by Aung San Suu Kyi, were barred from participating or boycotted the process, citing unfair conditions. Voting occurred in only 263 of Myanmar's 330 townships due to security issues amid ongoing conflict. Parliament speaker Aung Lin Dwe announced the results, with runners-up Nyo Saw, a retired general and former prime minister, and Nan Ni Ni Aye, an ethnic Karen politician from the USDP, appointed as vice presidents. The trio is expected to be inaugurated next week.

Min Aung Hlaing stepped down as commander-in-chief...