Myanmar to Select New President on 30 March

Myanmar’s parliament has confirmed it will begin the process of electing a new president on 30 March, a move that could cement the military’s grip on power five years after its coup.

Officials from the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw said the military, along with the upper and lower houses of parliament, will each nominate a candidate. After vetting, one will be chosen as president, while the other two will serve as vice presidents. State media broadcast the announcement but gave no timeline for the vetting or final vote.

Analysts widely expect junta chief Min Aung Hlaing to secure the presidency, though constitutional rules require him to step down as Commander-in-Chief before becoming eligible. Independent analyst Htin Kyaw Aye explained: “Since Min Aung Hlaing aspires to the presidency, he must step down from his current role as Commander-in-Chief to be eligible under the 2008 constitution.”

The announcement follows elections in December and January, criticised internationally as favouring the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party. Observers say the process is unlikely to signal a democratic transition. “This is not a transition to democracy, but rather a transformation from a military-clad dictatorship to a civilian-clothed one,” Htin Kyaw Aye added.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since February 2021, when the military ousted the elected civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup triggered mass protests that evolved into armed resistance across the country. As parliament prepares for its presidential vote, many fear the outcome will reinforce military dominance rather than open the door to genuine reform.

-2026-03-23