Senior military-linked sources say Myanmar’s ruling junta is preparing a major political shift in which Senior General Min Aung Hlaing would step down as commander-in-chief and move into the presidency, while overseeing the appointment of his successor in the armed forces. Such a transition, if realised, would allow him to retain influence over both military and civilian branches of power during a potential presidential term.
BBC Burmese reported that Foreign Minister Than Swe told Thai diplomat Sihasak Phuangketkeow a new commander-in-chief would soon replace Min Aung Hlaing, who has led the Tatmadaw since 2011. The move follows contested national elections that saw the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party claim 232 of 263 lower-house seats and 109 of 157 declared upper-house seats — results critics say lack credibility.
Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun has said parliament is likely to meet in March to elect a new president, with a new government expected to take office in April, according to pro-military Eleven Media Group. Under the military-drafted 2008 constitution, the president must appoint the commander-in-chief on the recommendation of the National Defence and Security Council and may not hold another post simultaneously, meaning Min Aung Hlaing would have to formally retire from the army before assuming the presidency.
In early February the junta announced a Union Consultative Council to oversee the handover to the next government, raising the possibility that Min Aung Hlaing could chair the council as president and thus further consolidate authority across civilian and military institutions. Military insiders quoted by the sources say his presidential ambitions stretch back to at least 2015 and that he had repeatedly signalled a desire for the presidency to NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi — a refusal the sources allege helped trigger the February 2021 coup after the National League for Democracy’s landslide 2020 victory.
The 2021 coup, carried out a day before the NLD was due to begin its second term, resulted in the arrest and imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi and senior NLD figures on charges international observers describe as politically motivated. Analysts warn that a Min Aung Hlaing presidency would likely be accompanied by the appointment of a loyalist as army chief and a cabinet dominated by USDP figures, creating a tightly controlled power structure.
Opponents say such consolidation would deepen instability. Ethnic armed organisations have vowed to intensify resistance, and the shadow National Unity Government has rejected the elections and recommitted to dismantling military rule. Observers caution that a presidency for Min Aung Hlaing would not normalise politics in Myanmar but mark a new phase of centralised military dominance with prolonged conflict and resistance across the country.
Original Source: https://nenews.in/neighbours/myanmar-army-chief-min-aung-hlaing-may-quit-military-post-to-become-president/42697/
Category: Neighbours,Army Chief Min Aung Hlaing,Junta,Military,Myanmar,President
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Publish Date: 2026-02-21 18:25:00
